Major Rishabh Sambyal Retires After 12 Years
Indiadailyupdate.com – The officer who became the internet’s national crush in Indian social media circles has hung up his uniform. Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal, who served as Aide-de-Camp to President Droupadi Murmu during the final chapter of his military career, has accepted premature retirement after approximately twelve years of active service. His exit closes a public story that began on parade grounds and ended in the corridors of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
From NDA Cadet to Special Forces Dagger
Sambyal entered the National Defence Academy through the 2013 entrance examination and joined the 133rd course, which commenced in 2014. He completed his commissioned-officer training at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun before receiving his first regimental posting in the Jat Regiment.
His first major public moment came at the 2021 Republic Day parade, where, as a Captain, he led the Jat Regiment contingent through the ceremonial march past the President’s box. The unit was awarded the Best Marching Contingent Trophy for that year’s event.
He subsequently transferred to 4 Para Special Forces — the Daggers — and completed the selection pipeline that earned him the Balidaan Badge, a distinction reserved for officers who clear India’s most demanding special-forces training regimen.
The ADC Posting and the Viral Moment
An Aide-de-Camp to the President manages the head of state’s daily schedule, coordinates security, and accompanies every public appearance. Sambyal’s duties encompassed protocol management, itinerary planning, and liaison with senior government functionaries and visiting dignitaries.
It was the sheer visibility of that role that turned a protocol assignment into a viral narrative. Photographs of him handing the President a handkerchief, holding an umbrella during outdoor events, or guiding her through ceremonial sequences spread rapidly across Indian social media. The “national crush” label took hold in comment sections and trending hashtags, and the phenomenon intensified during the 2026 Republic Day Parade when he again walked alongside President Murmu in her ceremonial capacity.
Farewell at Rashtrapati Bhavan
A week before his formal retirement, Sambyal visited Rashtrapati Bhavan to bid President Murmu a personal farewell. He thanked her for what he described as her guidance and blessings throughout the posting.
On Instagram, accompanying photographs from the visit, he wrote:
“Honoured to call on the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The blessings and teachings of the Hon’ble President have helped me grow as an individual in life. Also, it was wonderful to meet the family once again. Jai Hind.”
Premature retirement at the rank of Major is uncommon but not unheard of, particularly for officers who have completed a defined posting cycle and wish to pursue civilian careers, higher education, or entrepreneurial ventures. Sambyal’s twelve-year arc — from NDA cadet to ADC — compressed an unusually wide range of military experience into a single decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Major Rishabh Sambyal retire from the Indian Army? He accepted premature retirement after roughly twelve years of service, concluding his final posting as ADC to President Droupadi Murmu.
What rank did he hold at retirement? Major. He entered the Army as a cadet through the National Defence Academy and rose through the ranks over his twelve-year tenure.
Why did he become widely known online? Photographs and short video clips of him assisting the President during official functions — handing a handkerchief, holding an umbrella — circulated extensively on Indian social media, earning him the informal label of the internet’s national crush.
What special-forces qualification did he earn? He completed the selection and training pipeline of 4 Para Special Forces and received the Balidaan Badge.
