General NS Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, assumed charge as the third Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs (DMA) on May 31, 2026. He acknowledged the exemplary leadership and contribution of his predecessors and pledged to build upon their achievements. He expressed gratitude to the country for the trust reposed in the defence forces and said they would work in unison with all stakeholders as part of the Whole-of-Nation approach to further strengthen national security.

The CDS emphasised that he would work towards enhancing jointness, integration and synergy in the defence forces and would focus on accelerated development, induction and integration of indigenous weapons to achieve Aatmanirbharta. He called for innovation in thought and action and greater collaboration among all stakeholders to drive capability development and modernisation. The commitment included attention to training, logistics and acquisition processes to ensure timely capability delivery.

He complimented members of the defence forces on their professionalism and operational readiness and reiterated commitment to their training while ensuring welfare of veterans and Veer Naris. He urged all ranks to embrace change, uphold military ethos and relentlessly strive towards achieving excellence in all spheres. The CDS laid a wreath at the National War Memorial, New Delhi, and paid homage to soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice, and he was presented a Tri-Service Guard of Honour at the South Block lawns.

A highly decorated officer with over four decades of service, General Subramani was commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles in December 1985. His distinguished career included key command and staff appointments, including General Officer Commanding, 2 Corps; General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command; and the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, and he had served as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat prior to this appointment. He assumed the appointment of CDS and Secretary, DMA as the third holder of the office and indicated intent to build synergised capabilities across the services.