The Union government on Saturday (May 9, 2026) announced two major appointments, naming Lieutenant General N.S. Raja Subramani (Retd.) as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan as the next Chief of the Naval Staff.

According to the Ministry of Defence, Lt. Gen. Raja Subramani will succeed General Anil Chauhan, whose tenure as CDS ends on May 30. Along with the role of CDS, he will also serve as Secretary, Department of Military Affairs.

Currently serving as Military Adviser in the National Security Council Secretariat since September 2025, the senior officer earlier held key appointments, including Vice Chief of the Army Staff and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Command.

Commissioned into the 8 Garhwal Rifles in December 1985, Lt. Gen. Raja Subramani is a graduate of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy. He has also attended the Joint Services Command Staff College in the U.K. and the National Defence College in New Delhi

During a distinguished career spanning over four decades, he commanded formations in Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Sector and along the Western Front, including the prestigious 2 Corps. He also served in several important operational, instructional and strategic staff appointments. For his distinguished service, he has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, who has been appointed as the next Chief of the Naval Staff, will succeed Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, who retires on May 31.

Vice Admiral Swaminathan currently serves as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. Commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1987, he is a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare. Over the course of his naval career, he commanded several frontline warships, including INS Mysore and aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, and held key appointments in operations, personnel and training.

A recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal, the Admiral has also served as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and holds multiple postgraduate degrees, including a Ph.D. in International Studies.