UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — General NS Raja Subramani assumes charge as Chief of Defence Staff & Secretary, Department of Military Affairs

Q1. The creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff was formally recommended by a Group of Ministers and later approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security. How many years separated the Group of Ministers' recommendation from the Cabinet Committee on Security's approval of the post?

  • A. 14 years
  • B. 16 years
  • C. 18 years
  • D. 20 years

Q2. The post of Chief of Defence Staff is operationalised through a new department created within the Ministry of Defence, which the CDS heads as its Secretary. Which department is this?

  • A. Department of Defence
  • B. Department of Military Affairs
  • C. Department of Defence Production
  • D. Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

Q3. The Department of Military Affairs is headed, in the capacity of its Secretary to the Government of India, by which office-holder?

  • A. The Defence Secretary
  • B. The Chief of Defence Staff
  • C. The senior-most Chief of Staff of the three Services
  • D. The National Security Adviser

Q4. With reference to the subjects allocated to the Department of Military Affairs, consider the following: 1. The Armed Forces of the Union — the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. 2. The Territorial Army. 3. Capital acquisitions for the defence Services. 4. The Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as allocated to the Department of Military Affairs?

  1. The Armed Forces of the Union — the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
  2. The Territorial Army.
  3. Capital acquisitions for the defence Services.
  4. The Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the officers who have held the office of Chief of Defence Staff: 1. General Bipin Rawat was the first CDS and assumed charge on 1 January 2020. 2. General Anil Chauhan, the second CDS, was appointed with effect from 28 September 2022. 3. General NS Raja Subramani assumed the office of CDS immediately succeeding General Bipin Rawat. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. General Bipin Rawat was the first CDS and assumed charge on 1 January 2020.
  2. General Anil Chauhan, the second CDS, was appointed with effect from 28 September 2022.
  3. General NS Raja Subramani assumed the office of CDS immediately succeeding General Bipin Rawat.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. General NS Raja Subramani assumed charge as the third Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs with effect from which date?

  • A. 30 May 2026
  • B. 31 May 2026
  • C. 1 September 2025
  • D. 28 September 2022

Q7. In the order of officers who have held the office since its creation, General NS Raja Subramani is which Chief of Defence Staff of India?

  • A. First
  • B. Second
  • C. Third
  • D. Fourth

Q8. The Chief of Defence Staff acts as the Principal Military Adviser but exercises no military command over the Service Chiefs. Over the chiefs of how many Services does the CDS exercise no military command?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q9. In the context of the Chief of Defence Staff, the description 'Principal Military Adviser' precisely means that the CDS provides advice on all tri-Services matters to whom?

  • A. The Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister)
  • B. The President as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
  • C. The Prime Minister directly
  • D. The National Security Adviser

Q10. Consider the following statements comparing the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) with the Chief of Defence Staff: 1. Before the creation of the CDS, the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee was held on rotation by the senior-most of the three Service Chiefs. 2. The post of a permanent CDS as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee followed the Cabinet Committee on Security decision of December 2019. 3. The CDS was made the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee with effect from 2016. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Before the creation of the CDS, the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee was held on rotation by the senior-most of the three Service Chiefs.
  2. The post of a permanent CDS as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee followed the Cabinet Committee on Security decision of December 2019.
  3. The CDS was made the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee with effect from 2016.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Consider the following statements regarding General Anil Chauhan's tenure as Chief of Defence Staff and the transition to his successor: 1. General Anil Chauhan was appointed CDS with effect from 28 September 2022. 2. His service as CDS was extended by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet up to 30 May 2026. 3. He was succeeded by General NS Raja Subramani, who assumed charge on 31 May 2026. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. General Anil Chauhan was appointed CDS with effect from 28 September 2022.
  2. His service as CDS was extended by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet up to 30 May 2026.
  3. He was succeeded by General NS Raja Subramani, who assumed charge on 31 May 2026.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3