Meet Lt General Rajiv Ghai: 1st Serving Three-Star Officer Appointed Military Adviser in NSCS

In a significant departure from established practice, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, SYSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM***, has been appointed as the Military Adviser (MA) in the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). He succeeds Lieutenant General N.S. Raja Subramani (Retd), who recently assumed charge as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on 31 May 2026.

Lt Gen Ghai is the first serving three-star officer to be appointed to this key advisory position. All previous holders since the post was revived in 2018 — including Lieutenant Generals Khandare and Anil Chauhan, Lt Gen N.S. Raja Subramani, and Air Marshal Sandeep Singh — had superannuated from active service before taking up the role. Lt Gen Ghai still has more than 15 months of service remaining, bringing direct, recent operational and strategic experience into the apex national security advisory mechanism.

A Distinguished Career Rooted in the Kumaon Regiment

Commissioned into the Kumaon Regiment on 16 December 1989 from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Lt Gen Ghai is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (Khadakwasla), Defence Services Staff College (Wellington), Army War College (Mhow), and National Defence College (New Delhi).

Over more than 36 years of service, he has accumulated extensive experience across conventional operations, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast, high-altitude warfare, and United Nations peacekeeping duties in Lebanon.

Key appointments in his career include:

• Command of an infantry battalion in the western sector and an independent brigade in the northern sector.
• General Officer Commanding, 56th Infantry Division.
• General Officer Commanding, XV Corps (Chinar Corps), Srinagar, from 15 June 2023.
• Critical staff roles in the Military Operations Directorate at Army Headquarters, including as Brigadier Military Operations, and as Major General General Staff at Northern Command.
• Instructional tenures at the Infantry School, Mhow, and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

DGMO Tenure and Leadership in Operation Sindoor

Lt Gen Ghai assumed the appointment of Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) on 25 October 2024. It was in this role that he came into national prominence.

On 22 April 2025, a Pakistan-backed terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir claimed the lives of 26 tourists. The attackers, associated with The Resistance Front (linked to groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba), reportedly segregated victims by religion before opening fire.

In response, India launched Operation Sindoor in early May 2025 (night of 6–7/7–8 May). The tri-service operation involved precise, calibrated strikes on nine terrorist training camps and infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir. The operation demonstrated India’s enhanced joint operational capability and a calibrated, non-escalatory approach.

As DGMO, Lt Gen Ghai spearheaded the Indian Army’s planning and execution. During the operation, Pakistan’s DGMO reportedly contacted his Indian counterpart requesting a ceasefire. Indian assessments later indicated significant Pakistani casualties along the Line of Control.

On the first anniversary of the operation in May 2026, Lt Gen Ghai described it as “a defining moment in India’s strategic journey” and stated that “Operation Sindoor is not the end, it’s the beginning.” He emphasised that the operation proved Atmanirbhar to be “not just a slogan, but indeed a force multiplier,” while reaffirming India’s resolve to defend its sovereignty decisively and responsibly.

For his leadership, he was awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM) on Independence Day 2025. His other decorations include the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) on Republic Day 2025, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2023, and the Sena Medal with two bars.

 

Strategic Oversight as Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy)

On 10 June 2025, Lt Gen Ghai assumed the appointment of Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) — a relatively new vertical created to strengthen long-term planning and integration. In this role, he oversaw key operational and intelligence functions while continuing to contribute to the Army’s strategic direction.

In March 2026, he took over as Colonel of the Kumaon Regiment, Kumaon Scouts, and Naga Regiment at the Kumaon Regimental Centre in Ranikhet, succeeding Lt Gen Ram Chander Tiwari. He has stressed the importance of soldier welfare, modernisation through technology (drones and AI-driven surveillance), and maintaining regimental cohesion to meet contemporary challenges.

 

The Military Adviser Role in the NSCS

The Military Adviser to the NSCS functions as the principal military adviser within the National Security Council framework. The officer provides expert military input on strategic assessments, operational matters, tri-service coordination, and policy issues, serving as a crucial bridge between the Armed Forces and the highest echelons of national security decision-making.

Since its revival in 2018, the post has traditionally been held by retired senior officers, offering post-service expertise. Lt Gen N.S. Raja Subramani (Retd), former Vice Chief of Army Staff and GOC-in-C Central Command, held the position from 1 September 2025 until his elevation as CDS.

Lt Gen Ghai’s appointment as a serving three-star officer injects current operational experience and strategic insight directly into the NSCS. His recent tenure as DGMO during a major cross-border response, combined with his role shaping Army strategy as DCOAS (Strategy), makes him particularly well-suited for the advisory position at a time when India is advancing theatre command reforms and adapting to multi-domain threats.

Strategic Significance of the Appointment

This transition comes at a pivotal moment. With General N.S. Raja Subramani now leading the Department of Military Affairs as CDS with a mandate to drive integration and theatreisation, Lt Gen Ghai’s presence in the NSCS ensures continuity of recent operational lessons and strategic thinking at the intersection of military advice and national security policy.

His career trajectory — from commanding units in challenging terrains to leading the planning of Operation Sindoor and overseeing strategic functions at Army Headquarters — positions him to contribute meaningfully to integrated assessments and responses to evolving security challenges along the northern and western borders, as well as internal security dynamics.

A Leader for a New Era of Integrated Security

Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai’s appointment as the first serving three-star Military Adviser in the NSCS reflects both recognition of his distinguished service and a deliberate choice to embed active, high-level operational and strategic expertise within India’s apex national security advisory structure.

As he transitions from the operational helm of the Indian Army to this influential advisory role, Lt Gen Ghai carries with him the experience of commanding troops in sensitive sectors, orchestrating a landmark military response, and shaping institutional strategy. His tenure is expected to strengthen the synergy between the Armed Forces and the National Security Council Secretariat at a time when India’s defence posture continues to evolve in response to complex regional and global dynamics.