The Infantry Officer Who Saw Every Side Of War

Lieutenant General N.S. Raja Subramani arrives at the office of Chief of Defence Staff with one of the most varied careers among India’s senior military leaders. Over more than four decades, he has served as an infantry commander, intelligence officer, military diplomat, instructor and strategic adviser, building experience across almost every level of military leadership.

Commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles on December 14, 1985, Raja Subramani began his military journey after graduating from the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy. His roots are firmly in the infantry, but his career would eventually take him far beyond the traditional path of a frontline commander.

Operational leadership remained at the centre of his service. He commanded 16 Garhwal Rifles during counter-insurgency operations in Assam under Operation Rhino, one of the Army’s long-running missions in the North East. He later led the 168 Infantry Brigade in Jammu and Kashmir, where counter-insurgency operations and security responsibilities have shaped military deployments for decades.

His command experience expanded further when he took charge of the 17 Mountain Division in the Central Sector. He eventually rose to command II Corps, better known as Kharga Corps, one of the Army’s principal strike formations on the western front. Few officers accumulate command experience across counter-insurgency environments, mountain warfare formations and large conventional forces. Raja Subramani did all three.

His progression through senior ranks brought further responsibility. He served as Chief of Staff of Northern Command, one of the Army’s most operationally active commands, before becoming General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Command. From July 2024 to July 2025, he served as Vice Chief of Army Staff, placing him at the centre of force management, capability development and institutional planning.

Yet operational command represents only one side of his professional journey.

Raja Subramani also spent significant time in intelligence and staff appointments. He served as Deputy Director General Military Intelligence, worked as Colonel General Staff Operations in Eastern Command and held appointments including Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade and Assistant Military Secretary. He also served as Deputy Commander of a Rashtriya Rifles Sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

These appointments exposed him to planning, assessment and personnel management, broadening his understanding of military operations beyond the battlefield.

His career also includes an important diplomatic chapter. As Defence Attaché to Kazakhstan, he represented India’s military interests abroad and gained experience in international defence engagement and military cooperation.

Education has been another defining feature of his professional life. He attended the Joint Services Command and Staff College in the United Kingdom and later the National Defence College in New Delhi. His academic qualifications include a Master’s degree from King’s College London and an MPhil in Defence Studies from the University of Madras.

Teaching and mentorship also featured prominently. He served as an instructor at the National Defence Academy and later as Chief Instructor at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, helping prepare future generations of military leaders.

In September 2025, he was appointed Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat. The assignment brought him into the national security decision-making framework and provided direct exposure to strategic policy issues beyond the military sphere.

His appointment as Chief of Defence Staff comes as India continues efforts to improve integration among the armed forces, strengthen long-term defence planning and pursue reforms in military structures and processes.

Decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal, Raja Subramani’s career combines field command, intelligence, diplomacy, education and strategic planning. It is a professional journey that reflects both the complexity of modern military leadership and the changing demands of national security management.