New Delhi, May 31 (NVI): General N.S. Raja Subramani on Sunday assumed charge as the third Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, pledging to strengthen jointness among the armed forces and accelerate the induction of indigenous military capabilities to bolster national security.
After taking over, General Subramani paid tribute to his predecessors and expressed gratitude for the trust reposed in the armed forces. He said the military would continue to work in close coordination with all stakeholders under a whole-of-nation approach to further strengthen the country’s security architecture.
The new CDS emphasised enhancing integration, synergy and operational effectiveness among the Army, Navy and Air Force, while focusing on the development, induction and integration of indigenous defence systems to achieve self-reliance in the sector.
He also called for innovation and greater collaboration among stakeholders to drive capability development and military modernisation. Commending the professionalism and operational readiness of the armed forces, General Subramani reiterated his commitment to strengthening training standards and ensuring the welfare of veterans and Veer Naris.
Earlier in the day, General Subramani laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi and paid homage to soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the nation. He was also accorded a Tri-Service Guard of Honour at South Block.
A highly decorated officer with more than four decades of service, General Subramani was commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles in December 1985.
During his distinguished military career, he held several key command and staff appointments, including General Officer Commanding of 2 Corps, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Command, and Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
Before assuming charge as CDS, he served as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat.
He took over from General Anil Chauhan, who had succeeded General Bipin Rawat after his death in an air crash. (NVI)
