The Indian government has appointed Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani as the country's next Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), the Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

Subramani will also serve as Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs and will assume office after General Anil Chauhan completes his tenure on May 30, 2026.

The CDS is the senior-most military appointment in India and oversees coordination among the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

Subramani will be the third officer to hold the post since it was created in 2019.