Who is Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal? The former ADC called President Murma a “national crush” who took early retirement | Today’s news
Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal, who became an internet sensation during his service to the nation and President Droupadi Murma, has taken early retirement from the Indian Army. He became a household name and a heartthrob while serving as an aide to the president.
The former ADC first made his mark in 2021 as a captain in the Jat Regiment. The major came into limelight once again after the Rashtrapati Bhavan official digital photo library published the passing of Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal by listing him as a retired former ADC. After formally leaving office, he met the President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 21 August 2026 and photographs of the meeting went viral. In an Instagram post, he described the visit as an opportunity to express gratitude to the president for her guidance and blessings.
Education and career
He passed the National Defense Academy (NDA) examination in 2013 and joined the 133rd NDA course in 2014. In 2017, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Affairs. In the same year, he joined the Indian Military Academy and pursued military studies and defense management.
During his service, he led the Jat Regiment contingent in the 2021 Republic Day Parade and won the prestigious Best Marching Contingent Trophy. A distinguished ex-army officer, he served with the elite 4 Para special forces known as ‘Daggers’ and even earned the Balidaan badge, an honor achieved by only a small fraction of volunteers.
Rooted in military tradition, Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal hails from a Dogra Rajput family of Jammu and Kashmir. The former ADC has served the Indian Army for a total of 12 years, ranging from Lieutenant, Captain, Major to the posts of Aide-de-Camp. According to his LinkedIn profile, in March 2023 he was selected for one of the most prestigious and discreet assignments in the armed forces – the presidential ADC.
The description attached to his “open for job” profile states: “Military professional with 12 years of experience in cross-functional team leadership, high-pressure operations and strategic planning in challenging global environments. Most recently served as Aide-de-Camp to the President of India, directing high-quality protocol management, executive security and seamless coordination of the Prime Minister’s routes, working closely on the highest national and international interactions with inter-corporation office.” dignitaries and central ministries while conducting official diplomatic tours across eight countries.”
It also mentions his key areas of expertise including “strategic leadership, risk and crisis management, tactical communications and operational planning”. Popular as a “national crush”, he further noted that he was “recognised with the Presidential Service Badge and decorations from the Chief and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army”.
The SSB Crack report suggested that he took early retirement due to personal and family reasons, citing an Instagram Live video. “There are situations and instances in everyone’s life that change your life forever,” he said, while revealing that there are no immediate plans to get married.
