VISAKHAPATNAM: The pursuit of knowledge has no finish line, says an old adage. For Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani (retd.), recently appointed as India’s new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), this is not merely a proverb but a practised reality.
Even as he prepares to shoulder one of the nation’s most formidable military responsibilities, the decorated officer continues on the disciplined path of a student, advancing his doctoral research at Andhra University (AU) in Visakhapatnam.
Enrolled in the university’s Trans-Disciplinary Research Hub (TDR Hub) in 2023, the newly appointed CDS is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the Department of Commerce and Management Studies under the supervision of Professor Jaladi Ravi.
University officials described him as approachable and deeply interested in learning despite his seniority and achievements.
“Despite his stature and achievements, he engages with research with sincerity and curiosity. He comes across as someone who genuinely values learning,” officials maintained.
Born on July 21, 1965, Lieutenant General Raja Subramani, who is an alumnus of the 67th course of the National
Defence Academy and the 77th course of the Indian Military Academy, has pursued higher studies throughout his career.
Raja Subramani held many command assignments
He attended the Joint Services Command and Staff College and the National Defence College, later earning a Master of Arts degree from the University of London after studying at King’s College London. He also holds an M.Phil. in Defence Studies from the University of Madras.
He was commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles on December 14, 1985. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has held a wide range of command, staff and instructional assignments across different operational environments.
Lieutenant General Raja Subramani has been serving as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat since September 1, 2025. Before that, he served as Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 2024 to July 2025 and as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command between March 2023 and June 2024.
During his military career, he commanded 16 Garhwal Rifles during counter-insurgency operations in Assam under Operation Rhino, 168 Infantry Brigade in Jammu and Kashmir, and 17 Mountain Division in the Central Sector. He also headed 2 Corps, one of the Indian Army’s principal strike formations on the Western Front.
His staff and instructional assignments included serving as Defence Attaché in Kazakhstan, Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence, Chief Instructor at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, and Chief of Staff at Headquarters Northern Command.
For his distinguished service, Lieutenant General Raja Subramani has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and some others.