Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani Appointed Next CDS, Vice Admiral Swaminathan To Head Navy

The Government of India on Saturday announced key leadership changes in the armed forces, appointing Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani (Retd) as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan as the next Chief of the Naval Staff , marking a major transition at the top of the military establishment.

Lt Gen Subramani will assume charge as CDS on May 30, 2026 , succeeding Gen Anil Chauhan , who retires the same day. Vice Admiral Swaminathan will take over as Navy Chief on May 31, 2026 , succeeding Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi , who also completes his tenure.

The appointments come at a crucial juncture as India pushes forward with reforms aimed at enhancing tri-service integration and implementing the theatreisation model, which seeks to create integrated operational commands for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Lt Gen Subramani, currently serving as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) , is widely regarded as an expert on Pakistan and China-related military strategy and operations . He retired as Vice Chief of the Army Staff in July 2025 after a distinguished service career spanning nearly four decades.

Commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles in 1985 , he has held several key command, staff, and instructional appointments across diverse operational environments. His field experience includes leading counter-insurgency operations in Assam under Operation Rhino , commanding the 168 Infantry Brigade in Jammu and Kashmir , and heading the 17 Mountain Division in the central sector. He has also commanded a strike corps on the Western front , giving him extensive exposure to operational dynamics along both the Western and Northern borders .

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla , and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun , he has also trained at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, UK , and the National Defence College, New Delhi . He holds a Master’s degree from King’s College London and an MPhil in Defence Studies from Madras University .

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, currently heading the Western Naval Command , has been appointed as the next Chief of Naval Staff . He is presently serving as Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) and will assume charge on May 31.

Commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1987 , he is a specialist in communication and electronic warfare and has commanded several frontline warships, including missile vessels INS Vidyut and INS Vinash , missile corvette INS Kulish , guided missile destroyer INS Mysore , and the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya .

He has held key appointments such as Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command , Controller of Personnel Services , and Chief of Personnel at Naval Headquarters . An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, US Naval War College, and King’s College London, he also holds a PhD in International Studies. He has been decorated with the PVSM, AVSM, and VSM for distinguished service.

The transition marks the retirement of Gen Anil Chauhan , who became CDS in 2022 following the death of General Bipin Rawat, and Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi , who led the Navy during a phase of ongoing modernisation. The new leadership is expected to further advance jointness, operational integration, and defence modernisation initiatives across the armed forces.