India, May 10 -- India on Saturday appointed Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani (retd) as the next chief of defence staff (CDS) and Vice Adm Krishna Swaminathan as the new navy chief, filling the top military posts ahead of a major command restructuring.

Subramani will assume office on May 30, succeeding Gen Anil Chauhan. Swaminathan takes charge on May 31, replacing Adm Dinesh K Tripathi.

The appointments arrive at a pivotal moment as the armed forces advance theaterisation, a long-awaited reform designed to integrate the military's resources for future conflicts.

Subramani currently serves as the military adviser to the National Security Council Secretariat, headed by national security adviser Ajit Doval. He took the position on September 1, 2...