The government has officially approved the appointment of Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani as the next Vice Chief of Army Staff, as confirmed by official sources on Thursday. Lt Gen Subramani, who is currently leading the Army’s Central Command, is set to replace Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi in the role.
Lt Gen Dwivedi will ascend to the position of Chief of the Army Staff following the retirement of the current Chief, Gen Manoj Pande, on June 30.
The decision to appoint Lt Gen Subramani aligns with the government’s adherence to the seniority principle within the military’s hierarchy. Commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles in 1985, Lt Gen Subramani boasts an extensive and distinguished military career of over 37 years.
A graduate of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy, Lt Gen Subramani furthered his education at the prestigious Joint Services Command Staff College in Bracknell, UK, and the National Defence College in New Delhi. He holds a Master of Arts from King’s College, London, and an MPhil in Defence Studies from Madras University.
Lt Gen Subramani’s notable military achievements include commanding a battalion during Operation Rhino in Assam, leading an infantry brigade along the International Boundary with Pakistan, and overseeing the ‘Black Cat’ division in Northeast India. He also commanded the Uttar Bharat Area in 2020 and the prominent Kharga Corps at Ambala.
Throughout his career, Lt Gen Subramani has held several critical positions including brigade major of a mountain brigade, assistant military secretary in the Military Secretary Branch, Colonel General Staff at headquarters Eastern Command, deputy director general of Military Intelligence, and Brigadier General Staff in Eastern Command.
His appointment as Vice Chief is viewed as a testament to his leadership qualities and his significant contributions to the Indian Army.
