New Delhi: Former Indian Army Vice Chief Lt Gen N.S. Raja Subramani (Retd) has been appointed the new Military Advisor (MA) to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) by the Union government. He will assume charge on 1 September, succeeding Air Marshal Sandeep Singh (Retd), who has held the post since early 2023.
The NSCS functions as the executive arm of the National Security Council, providing policy inputs and inter-ministerial coordination on national security matters under the National Security Advisor. Structurally, the council is organised into three tiers: the Strategic Policy Group, the National Security Advisory Board, and the NSCS—which houses verticals such as military affairs, technology, intelligence coordination, and maritime security.
The MA’s office acts as the principal link between the armed forces and the NSCS, offering assessments on operational readiness, force planning, and capability development.
Lt Gen Subramani retired on 31 July after nearly 39 years of service. Commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles in December 1985, he went on to command the 16 Garhwal Rifles in Assam during Operation Rhino, a major counter-insurgency campaign. He later commanded an infantry brigade along the border with Pakistan before taking charge of the 17 Mountain Division in Sikkim, where he earned a reputation for his handling of high-altitude operations.
His staff and intelligence postings included Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence, Assistant Military Secretary at Army Headquarters, and Brigadier General Staff (Operations) in Eastern Command. He also served as India’s Defence Attaché in Kazakhstan, adding military diplomacy to his profile.
In senior command, he led the Uttar Bharat Area and later II Corps, one of the Army’s key strike formations, before being appointed Chief of Staff at Northern Command in 2022. From March 2023 to June 2024, he served as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command. He was elevated as the 47th Vice Chief of Army Staff on 1 July 2024, a position he held until his superannuation this year.
Over the course of his career, he was decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal, and Vishisht Seva Medal, in addition to several campaign and service awards. Known for his intellect and leadership, he pursued higher studies at premier institutions, earning a Master’s degree from King’s College London and an MPhil in Defence Studies from the University of Madras.
(Edited by Shashank Kishan)
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