The appointments signal a key transition in India’s military leadership amid ongoing defence modernisation efforts
The Centre on Saturday announced a major reshuffle in India’s top military leadership, appointing Lieutenant General N S Raja Subramani as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan as the next Chief of Naval Staff.
The appointments mark a significant transition in India’s defence establishment, with both officers set to assume charge by the end of May.
According to the official announcement, Lt Gen Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd.), will succeed General Anil Chauhan as the country’s Chief of Defence Staff. He will also serve as Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Military Affairs from the date he assumes office until further orders.
General Chauhan is scheduled to complete his tenure on May 30, 2026.
Lt Gen Raja Subramani has been serving as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat since September 2025. Prior to that, he held the post of Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 2024 to July 2025 and earlier commanded the Army’s Central Command as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
The decorated officer brings decades of operational and strategic experience to the country’s highest military post at a time when India is focusing heavily on military modernisation, joint theatre integration and indigenous defence capability enhancement.
Alongside the CDS appointment, the government also named Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan as the next Navy Chief. Currently serving as the Western Naval Commander in Mumbai, he will take over as Chief of Naval Staff on May 31 and is expected to remain in office until December 31, 2028.
Vice Admiral Swaminathan will succeed Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, who assumed command as the 26th Chief of Naval Staff in April 2024.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1987, Vice Admiral Swaminathan is a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare and is regarded as one of the Navy’s most experienced operational commanders.
Over the course of his distinguished career, he has commanded several frontline naval platforms, including missile vessels INS Vidyut and INS Vinash, missile corvette INS Kulish, guided missile destroyer INS Mysore and aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
He has also held several senior staff and training appointments, including Chief Staff Officer (Training) at Headquarters Southern Naval Command, Flag Officer Sea Training and Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet. He additionally played a key role in establishing the Indian Navy Safety Team, responsible for operational safety oversight across the force.
Vice Admiral Swaminathan is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla and has undergone advanced military training in India, the United Kingdom and the United States.
His academic credentials include degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Cochin University of Science and Technology, King’s College London and Mumbai University, where he earned a PhD in International Studies.
For his distinguished service, he has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal.
The twin appointments come amid India’s continued push to strengthen military preparedness, maritime capability and integrated command structures across the armed forces.
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