A 12 year Army career took Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal from the Jat Regiment and 4 Para Special Forces to his role as President Droupadi Murmu’s ADC.
Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal has taken premature retirement from the Indian Army after around 12 years of military service. He became widely recognised during his tenure as Aide-de-Camp, or ADC, to President Droupadi Murmu.
His public profile grew significantly through photographs and videos from official engagements, where he was frequently seen accompanying the President. His appearance at several public events eventually led social media users to describe him as the “national crush”.
Sambyal’s departure from active service came into wider public view after he met President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 21, 2026. Reports said the former ADC expressed gratitude to the President for her guidance and blessings during his tenure.
However, his recognition on social media came only after several years of military service that included the Jat Regiment, the 2021 Republic Day Parade and 4 Para Special Forces.
Who is Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal?
Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal is a former Indian Army officer who served with the Jat Regiment and later with 4 Para Special Forces before becoming an ADC to President Droupadi Murmu.
According to his publicly available professional profile, Sambyal cleared the National Defence Academy examination in 2013 and joined the 133rd NDA course in 2014. He later trained at the Indian Military Academy before being commissioned into the Army. Recent reports have also cited these details from his professional profile.
His military career eventually took him to Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he served as an ADC to the President.
Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal’s Army journey
Sambyal’s military career gained public attention well before his association with President Murmu.
In 2021, then Captain Rishabh Singh Sambyal led the Jat Regiment contingent at the Republic Day Parade. The contingent was adjudged the Best Marching Contingent, marking an important achievement in his Army career.
He later served with 4 Para Special Forces, also known as the “Daggers”. Reports about his military career state that he earned the Balidaan Badge during his service with the unit.
His career subsequently took him to one of the most visible ceremonial assignments in the country when he became an ADC to President Murmu.
What does an ADC to the President do?
An Aide-de-Camp is a military officer assigned to assist a senior constitutional or military authority.
For the President of India, the appointment involves supporting official engagements and ceremonial responsibilities while coordinating with the wider protocol system around the Head of State.
During his tenure, Sambyal was regularly seen alongside President Murmu at official ceremonies, public engagements and overseas visits. Those appearances made him familiar to a much wider audience beyond the military community.
His role at Rashtrapati Bhavan also placed him in close proximity to important official engagements involving the President.
How did Major Rishabh Sambyal become popular on social media?
Sambyal’s public popularity grew largely from photographs and videos taken during his official duties.
As President Murmu’s ADC, he was frequently seen accompanying her at ceremonies and other official events. Several moments from these engagements were widely circulated on social media.
His composed appearance in uniform and his regular presence alongside the President attracted considerable attention from social media users. Some photographs and videos were shared widely, eventually leading to the informal “national crush” label.
The description remains a social-media tag rather than any official designation.
Why did Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal retire early?
The precise circumstances surrounding Sambyal’s premature retirement have not been detailed in an official statement from the Ministry of Defence.
Recent reports said Sambyal referred to personal and family reasons while discussing his decision on social media. He also indicated that his family supported the decision.
He has spoken about his childhood ambition of wearing the Army uniform and indicated that leaving the service was not something he had originally expected to do at this stage of his career.
Since no detailed official explanation has been made public, it would be inappropriate to attribute any other reason to his retirement.
What will Major Rishabh Sambyal do after retirement?
Sambyal’s next professional move remains a subject of interest following his departure from the Army.
His publicly available professional information lists experience in areas including military leadership, planning, coordination and related responsibilities. However, there has been no confirmed announcement of a specific new job, business venture or public position.
Sambyal has indicated that he would share details about his future at the appropriate time.
Therefore, claims about his next career should be treated cautiously unless he confirms them himself.
Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal’s meeting with President Murmu
After leaving his position as ADC, Sambyal met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 21, 2026.
Following the meeting, he shared photographs on Instagram and expressed gratitude for the President’s guidance and blessings during his tenure. Recent reports said the Rashtrapati Bhavan’s official photo library identified him as a retired former ADC.
The meeting marked a significant moment in his transition from serving ADC to former ADC.
For Sambyal, whose public recognition grew substantially during his time alongside President Murmu, the meeting also represented the close of an important chapter in his Army career.
What makes Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal’s career notable?
Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal’s journey combines several distinct phases of military service.
He entered the NDA training system, went through military training, served with the Jat Regiment, led its Republic Day contingent in 2021 and later served with 4 Para Special Forces. He eventually became an ADC to President Droupadi Murmu.
His public recognition came largely through images from official duties rather than through a conventional public-facing career.
After around 12 years in uniform, Sambyal has now moved into a new phase of his professional life. His next step remains unconfirmed, but his Army career has already taken him through several high-profile assignments before his tenure as President Murmu’s ADC brought him wider public attention.
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