A full, well-sourced biography of Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal former ADC to President Droupadi Murmu, 4 Para Special Forces officer, and the captain who led the Jat Regiment to the 2021 Republic Day Best Marching Contingent Trophy. Covers early life, family, army career, retirement, and what he is doing next.
Who Is Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal?
Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal is a former officer of the Indian Army. He served as the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Droupadi Murmu from about 2023 to 2026. Before Rashtrapati Bhavan, he was a Captain in the Jat Regiment. He later volunteered for 4 Para (Special Forces). The unit is known as “the Daggers.” He earned the Balidaan Badge with them. In August 2026, he took premature retirement after about 12 years of service.
If you spend any time on Indian social media, you have probably seen his face. He is the calm officer in olive green. He stood one step behind the President at official events. He held an umbrella over her in the rain. He once passed her a handkerchief at a quiet moment. The internet called him “India’s national crush.”
But the real story runs deeper than the memes. It is the story of a boy from a border district in Jammu. He cleared one of the toughest entry tests in the country. He won a Republic Day trophy. He volunteered for one of the Army’s hardest units. He served at the highest office in the land. Then he walked away at the peak of his fame.
Quick Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal |
| Date of birth | 11 March (year not officially published) |
| Age in 2026 | Early thirties |
| Birthplace | Samba district, Jammu & Kashmir, India |
| Community | Dogra Rajput |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Marital status | Unmarried, per his August 2026 statement |
| Rank at retirement | Major |
| Regiments and units | Jat Regiment; 4 Para (Special Forces), “the Daggers” |
| Notable honour | Best Marching Contingent Trophy, Republic Day 2021 |
| Special badge | Balidaan Badge (4 Para SF) |
| Peak appointment | ADC to President Droupadi Murmu, about 2023 to 2026 |
| Education | Sainik School Kapurthala; NDA 133rd Course; IMA Dehradun |
| Degree | BA in International Relations and Affairs (2017) |
| Years of service | About 12 years |
| Retirement | Premature, announced August 2026 |
Early Life and Family Background
Roots in Samba, Jammu & Kashmir
Rishabh Singh Sambyal was born on 11 March. He grew up in Samba district. Samba is a border region of Jammu & Kashmir with a long record of sending young men into the Indian Army. He has always kept his family life private. The year of his birth has not been made public. Still, his 2013 NDA entry and 2018 commissioning place him in his early thirties in 2026.
Public profiles list him at about six feet tall. That puts him well above the 173 cm bar set for officers chosen for ADC duty at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Dogra Rajput Heritage and Military Tradition
He comes from a Dogra Rajput family. The Dogra community has a long record of service in the Indian Army. The Dogra Regiment itself carries that name. In his own words, Sambyal has spoken of growing up around stories of uniformed life. That setting, more than any single teacher or coach, shaped his choice to aim for the armed forces from an early age.
Education Journey: From Sainik School to NDA
Sainik School Kapurthala, Punjab
Major Sambyal’s formal route into the military started at Sainik School Kapurthala in Punjab. Sainik Schools are residential schools. They prepare students for entry into the National Defence Academy and other defence pipelines. The course work mixes academics with structured physical training, drills, and leadership drills.
After school, he moved to Lakshya Defence Academy in Jammu. There he focused on NDA preparation, covering the written exam, physical fitness, and SSB-style interview practice.
NDA 133rd Course at Khadakwasla
In 2013, he cleared the UPSC NDA entrance exam. It is one of the toughest written tests in India. In February 2014, he was recommended by the Services Selection Board (SSB) after the usual round of psychological tests, group tasks, and personal interviews.
He then joined the 133rd Course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla, Pune. NDA is a three-year, tri-service programme. While there, he earned a BA in International Relations and Affairs in 2017.
Indian Military Academy, Dehradun
After NDA, Sambyal moved to the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun. That was his final year of training. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in 2018 as a Lieutenant. IMA’s military studies and defence management modules are where cadets first learn the practical demands of leading soldiers.
Indian Army Career Timeline
Commissioning and Early Service with the Jat Regiment
After his 2018 commissioning, Lieutenant Sambyal was posted to the Jat Regiment. It is one of the oldest infantry regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment is known for its soldierly bearing and long list of battle honours. He rose to Captain and built his early reputation in regimental duty.
Republic Day 2021 and the Best Marching Contingent Trophy
In January 2021, Sambyal led the Jat Regiment’s marching contingent at the Republic Day Parade on Rajpath, now called Kartavya Path. The contingent went on to win the Best Marching Contingent Trophy. It is a rare and prized ceremonial honour. It was also the first time the wider Indian public saw his face at scale. The win marked a turning point in his public profile.
Volunteering for 4 Para (Special Forces), “the Daggers”
He did not stop at regimental service. Sambyal volunteered for the selection course of 4 Para (Special Forces). It is one of the elite Para SF units of the Indian Army. 4 Para is nicknamed “the Daggers.” The unit works in counter-terrorism and high-risk covert operations. Selection is widely seen as one of the most punishing courses in the Indian military, with high dropout rates.
Balidaan Badge: An Honour Earned, Not Given
Sambyal cleared the 4 Para probation. He was awarded the Balidaan Badge. The badge marks a soldier as a qualified special-forces operator. It is earned by only a small share of those who begin the course. For an Indian Army officer, the Balidaan Badge is a clear signal of personal grit.
ADC to the President of India
Selection and Role
Around 2023, on his own LinkedIn timeline, and continuing into 2024 to 2026 in public view, Major Sambyal was selected as one of the ADCs to President Droupadi Murmu. The role is one of the most prized and discreet postings in the Indian armed forces. ADCs handle protocol management, executive security, and itinerary planning for state and foreign events.
In his own professional summary, he has written that he handled “high-stakes protocol management, executive security, and seamless itinerary coordination” for top-tier state and foreign events. He has also said he worked closely with the Prime Minister’s Office, foreign dignitaries, and central ministries during the posting.
Why He Became the Internet’s “National Crush”
Between 2025 and early 2026, social media filled with photos and short clips of the officer at the President’s side. Three moments stood out.
First, the handkerchief, offered to the President at an emotional ceremony. Second, the umbrella, held steady over the President in the rain without a break in bearing. Third, the quiet, statue-like stillness that has long been a hallmark of well-trained ADC officers.
None of these moments were staged for the camera. That, more than any single photo, is what made them go viral. Fan edits on Instagram, X, and YouTube soon gave him the title “national crush.” Dedicated fan accounts, such as the @major_rs_sambyal page on Instagram, began to amplify news about him.
Premature Retirement from the Indian Army
The Announcement and Personal Reasons
In mid to late August 2026, after about 12 years of service, Major Sambyal took premature retirement. The confirmation came through an official channel. The Rashtrapati Bhavan digital photo library listed him as “Maj Rishab Sambyal (Retd.), former ADC to the President.” That listing followed a meeting at the President’s house on 21 August 2026.
In an Instagram Live video reported by SSBCrack and The Tribune, he called the decision “the hardest of my life.” He said it was driven by personal and family reasons. He also used the broadcast to push back against online rumours. He denied he was leaving India or settling abroad. He also denied any marriage plans.
Meeting President Murmu on 21 August 2026
On 21 August 2026, after being formally relieved of the ADC post, Sambyal met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President’s official digital photo library captioned him as a former ADC and retired officer. That was the first clear public confirmation of his retirement.
Life After the Uniform
LinkedIn and What Comes Next
His LinkedIn profile now reads as a “military professional with 12 years of experience leading cross-functional teams, high-pressure operations, and strategic planning across challenging global environments.” The profile is set to “open to work.” His listed areas of expertise include strategic leadership, risk and crisis management, tactical communication, and operational planning.
Sambyal has not yet named his next role. Still, the way his profile is framed and his stated interest in leadership, planning, and high-pressure execution point to a likely move into the private sector, consulting, or a strategic advisory role.
Public Perception, Rumours, and the Man Behind the Uniform
The “national crush” tag is a public label. Like most public labels, it is only part of the truth. From what is on the record, three things stand out about Major Sambyal beyond the memes.
First, discipline. The viral moments were moments where ADC training simply worked as designed. The bearing is not an act. It is the output of years at NDA, IMA, the Jat Regiment, and 4 Para SF.
Second, choice. Walking away from a Major’s rank, a celebrated regiment, and a high-visibility post at the peak of public attention is the opposite of what most people in such positions do. It shows he is willing to put personal priorities ahead of professional momentum.
Third, restraint. Through the speculation about emigration and marriage, his public response has been short, factual, and on his own terms. There is no brand tour, no tell-all interview, no manufactured controversy. That is unusual. It has only deepened public respect.
Key Takeaways
- Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal is a former Indian Army officer and former ADC to President Droupadi Murmu.
- He comes from a Dogra Rajput family in Samba district, Jammu & Kashmir. He studied at Sainik School Kapurthala, NDA Khadakwasla (133rd Course), and IMA Dehradun.
- He served in the Jat Regiment, led its contingent to the 2021 Republic Day Best Marching Contingent Trophy as a Captain, and later earned the Balidaan Badge with 4 Para (Special Forces), the Daggers.
- He became an internet phenomenon, known as India’s “national crush,” during his ADC tenure at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
- He took premature retirement in August 2026 after 12 years, citing personal and family reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the full name of Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal?
His full name is Rishabh Singh Sambyal. Earlier official records from the President’s Secretariat called him “Rishabh Singh, ADC to the President.” Later records use the fuller form, “Rishabh Singh Sambyal.”
How old is Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal?
His date of birth is listed publicly as 11 March, but the year has not been officially published. Based on his 2013 NDA entry and 2018 commissioning, he is in his early thirties in 2026.
Where is Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal from?
He is from Samba district in the Jammu region of Jammu & Kashmir. He comes from a Dogra Rajput family.
What is Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal’s education?
He studied at Sainik School Kapurthala, then prepared at Lakshya Defence Academy in Jammu. He cleared the UPSC NDA exam in 2013. He joined the NDA 133rd Course in 2014. He earned a BA in International Relations and Affairs in 2017. He then trained at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in 2018.
Which regiment did Major Sambyal serve in?
He served in the Jat Regiment and later in 4 Para (Special Forces), also known as the Daggers. He earned the Balidaan Badge with the Parachute Regiment.
Why is Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal famous as the “national crush”?
During his tenure as ADC to President Droupadi Murmu, viral videos and photos of him at the President’s side — offering a handkerchief, holding an umbrella in the rain, and standing in perfect bearing — turned him into a social media phenomenon. Fans gave him the title “national crush.”
Did Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal retire from the Indian Army?
Yes. He took premature retirement in August 2026 after about 12 years of service. He cited personal and family reasons and called the decision the hardest of his life.
What is Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal doing now?
He has not announced a specific new role. His LinkedIn profile is open to work. His listed expertise covers strategic leadership, risk and crisis management, tactical communication, and operational planning. That points to a likely move into the private sector or a strategic advisory role.