Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal Reveals the Personal Cost of Serving as the President’s Aide-de-Camp

Retired Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal, a former Special Forces officer, spoke to podcaster Raj Shamani about his three-year tenure as an aide-de-camp (ADC) to President Droupadi Murmu. Sambyal, who retired from the Indian Army last month after 12 years of service, described the “biggest sacrifice” of the role as the requirement that ADCs cannot marry while on duty and must remain constantly available to the President. He also highlighted the demanding schedule, the need for constant vigilance, and the loneliness that accompanies the position.

CNN-News18The Indian Express

An ADC to the President of India functions as the primary liaison between the President—often referred to as the “First Citizen”—and government, military, and public stakeholders. The role involves planning the President’s daily itinerary, accompanying her at official ceremonies, coordinating with various authorities, and maintaining a duty room adjacent to the President’s residence. Shifts typically run 24 hours, with one ADC taking over as another’s shift ends.

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• Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal (retired) – Former Special Forces officer, served three years as ADC to President Murmu.

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• President Droupadi Murmu – Head of state who appoints five ADCs to assist with her duties.

The Indian Express

• Lieutenant Commander Yashaswi Solankee – First woman Navy officer appointed ADC in 75 years.

The Indian Express

• Major Navya Shekhawat – First woman Army officer to hold the ADC post.

The Indian Express

• Major General V Parida – Military Secretary to the President, who has spoken about the President’s emphasis on gender parity.

The Indian Express

• The President’s staff includes five ADCs: three from the Army, one from the Navy, and one from the Air Force.

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• The “no-marriage” rule is a voluntary condition communicated to officers at the time of appointment; officers may decline the post if they do not wish to accept it.

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• ADCs live in a duty room next to the President and are on call from 9 am to 9 am the following day, after which a colleague assumes the shift.

The Indian Express

The voluntary marriage restriction is intended to ensure that ADCs can be available around the clock and focus exclusively on the President’s schedule. Major General V Parida explained that President Murmu’s advocacy for women’s empowerment led to the appointment of the first female Navy ADC, Lieutenant Commander Yashaswi Solankee, and later the first female Army ADC, Major Navya Shekhawat. The President’s office maintains that the rule applies irrespective of gender and is designed to prevent personal commitments from interfering with the demanding responsibilities of the post.

The Indian Express

• “I had never dreamt of getting selected as the ADC to the President. This was never in my bucket list.” — The President, military secretary

The Indian Express

No source discrepancies were identified regarding the number of ADCs, the voluntary nature of the marriage clause, or the duties described. However, the articles do not provide quantitative data on how many officers have declined the ADC appointment because of the marriage restriction, leaving that aspect unquantified.

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