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In a significant move aimed at deepening military inputs into national security decision-making, the government has appointed Indian Army Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy), Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, as the new Military Adviser (MA) to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), headed by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
Lt Gen Ghai becomes the first serving officer to be appointed to the post, underlining the growing emphasis on closer integration between the armed forces and the national security establishment.
The three-star general, who served as the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) during Operation Sindoor last year, is expected to take charge soon. He was appointed to the position earlier this week and has residual service until December 2027.
His appointment comes after a series of senior retired officers held the role. The immediate predecessor in the post was General N.S. Raja Subramani, who has since taken over as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). Before him, the position was held by Air Marshal Sandeep Singh and General Anil Chauhan, who later became the CDS. Lieutenant General Vinod Khandare was the first Military Adviser appointed during the Narendra Modi government, following the post’s revival in 2018.
The office of Military Adviser had earlier been occupied by Lt Gen Prakash Menon, who, after retiring in 2011, was appointed to the NSCS in 2012 and served until 2014. He later returned to the Secretariat as an Officer on Special Duty from 2015 to 2017, reporting directly to the NSA. The latest appointment also follows the government’s past decision to bring serving officers into the NSCS structure.
As Military Adviser, Lt Gen Ghai will serve as a crucial link and liaison between the armed forces and the country’s apex national security apparatus. While the National Security Adviser remains the Prime Minister’s principal strategist on intelligence, foreign policy and defence matters, the Military Adviser provides professional military assessments, evaluates operational preparedness and offers inputs on defence capabilities and contingency planning.
Lt Gen Ghai’s elevation follows a distinguished operational career spanning some of the Army’s most sensitive theatres. Commissioned into the Kumaon Regiment, he has commanded an infantry battalion in the western sector, an independent brigade in the Central sector and later the 56 Infantry Division in Arunachal Pradesh. He subsequently headed the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, responsible for counter-insurgency operations and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
He currently serves as the Colonel of the Kumaon Regiment, Kumaon Scouts and the Naga Regiment.
Although he was among the Army’s senior-most officers, Lt Gen Ghai was not in the line of succession for appointment as an Army Commander owing to the combination of seniority considerations and residual service requirements. Following his tenure as Corps Commander, he moved to Army Headquarters as DGMO and later assumed charge as Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy).
Officials said his extensive experience in operational planning and strategic affairs would be valuable at a time when India faces a complex security environment marked by continuing challenges along both the western and northern borders.
Ravi Shankar
Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.
