Defence & Securityv1 · 1 version
Chief of Defence Staff — 2026 Transition
General N.S. Raja Subramani took over as India's third Chief of Defence Staff on 31 May 2026, the day after General Anil Chauhan's tenure closed. Recalled from retirement for the role, he also becomes Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs — the office, born of a December 2019 Cabinet decision, that steers tri-service jointness, future theatre commands and the drive for indigenous weapons under Aatmanirbharta.
Last updated 14 July 20264 min read
Latest update
Gen N.S. Raja Subramani took charge as India's 3rd Chief of Defence Staff on 31 May 2026, succeeding Gen Anil Chauhan.
- CDS
- Chief of Defence Staff
- Raja Subramani
- Anil Chauhan
- Department of Military Affairs
- Bipin Rawat
- jointness
- theatre commands
Read the full living note — free
The complete note in both exam lenses (UPSC analytical / fact capsule), its full version history, and “what changed since you last read” — plus tonight's quiz.
Open in CA·WikiAI-assisted, human-reviewed · sourced from PIB, RBI & ministries · editorial policy
More living notes in Defence & Security
- Military Exercises - 2026 TrackerCounts SAREX-2026, the Coast Guard's 12th national maritime search-and-rescue exercise, held off Paradip on 8 October; the tally rises to 24.
- India's Fleet Support ShipsAdds the class's indigenous content, over 82 percent by the Navy's count, and notes Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh was chief guest at Surya's 6 October launch.
- Defence Budget & Aatmanirbharta DriveAdds HAL Koraput's 2,000th aero-engine with new AL-31FP and Shakti engine capacity, a Rs 661.50 crore BrahMos naval fire-control contract, and the first Fleet Support Ship launch.
- DRDO's Emerging Technologies - Hypersonics, Lasers & High-Altitude SystemsAdds DRDO's October 2026 firsts - the HAPS airship's 21 km flight and the AHAP parachute's maiden jump at Nyoma - retitles the card, and names DRDO's current chairman.
- Jammu & Kashmir After Article 370Adds the neutralising of LeT commander Musa in Budgam, completing a group of four, and India's rejection of Türkiye's UNGA remarks; restructures the card to the core-and-log anatomy.
- PRAHAAR — National Counter-Terrorism PolicyAdds the Extradition Portal launched at the 28 Sep 2026 PRAHAAR conference, 288 fugitives returned from 36 countries and the Shahzad Bhatti Network's UAPA ban; card restructured core-first.