For months, Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal became a familiar presence beside President Droupadi Murmu at official ceremonies, public engagements and foreign visits. His sharp military bearing, composed demeanour and occasional appearances alongside the President turned the otherwise low-profile Army officer into an unlikely social media celebrity.
Now, Sambyal, who was widely dubbed the internet’s “national crush”, has moved on from the Indian Army. The former Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Murmu has taken premature retirement after around 12 years of military service.
After formally completing his tenure, Sambyal called on President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and expressed gratitude for her guidance and blessings.
“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,” he wrote on Instagram alongside photographs with the President.
But the photographs that made him popular online represent only one chapter of a military career that began years before he became recognisable to social media users.
From NDA to the Indian Army
According to information on Sambyal’s publicly available LinkedIn profile, he joined the National Defence Academy after clearing the NDA examination in 2013 and was part of the 133rd NDA course that began in 2014. His profile also lists his education at the Indian Military Academy, where he studied military studies and defence management.
One of his early career highlights came on the Republic Day Parade, one of the country’s most prominent ceremonial occasions.
In 2021, then-Captain Sambyal led the Jat Regiment contingent during the Republic Day Parade. The contingent won the Best Marching Contingent Trophy, giving him professional recognition well before his posting at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
He later served with the elite 4 Para Special Forces, popularly known as the “Daggers”. Reports have also stated that he earned the Balidaan Badge during his Special Forces tenure.
The prestigious role of President’s ADC
Sambyal’s career took a prominent turn when he was selected for the President’s ADC assignment.
An Aide-de-Camp to the President is not simply a ceremonial officer accompanying the head of state. The role involves close coordination during official engagements and requires a strong understanding of protocol, security, scheduling and the demands of a busy presidential itinerary.
Sambyal’s professional profile describes his responsibilities as including protocol management, executive security, itinerary coordination and interaction with senior government officials and foreign dignitaries. It also states that he worked on official diplomatic engagements involving visits to several countries.
According to professional information cited in reports about his career, he was appointed as a President’s ADC in March 2023.
How Major Sambyal became an internet sensation
The attention surrounding Sambyal was unusual for an Army officer. His appearances with President Murmu during major national events and public engagements began attracting widespread interest online.
Social media users frequently commented on his composed demeanour, formal military appearance and the understated manner in which he carried out his duties.
His photographs from Republic Day-related events earlier in 2026 once again circulated widely. Hindustan Times and Moneycontrol reported on the attention surrounding the officer, noting how his military bearing and public appearances had made him a social media favourite.
The nickname “national crush” subsequently became associated with Sambyal online. However, the term is purely a social media label and is not an official designation.
Interestingly, some of the images that drew the most attention showed him performing routine duties rather than participating in high-profile military displays. Photographs and videos of Sambyal assisting the President during public engagements were widely shared, turning a largely behind-the-scenes assignment into a recognisable public persona.
Why did Sambyal take premature retirement?
The Ministry of Defence has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for Sambyal’s premature retirement. As a result, claims regarding a specific reason for his departure should be treated with caution.
A report by SSB Crack suggested that he opted for premature retirement because of personal and family reasons, citing comments made during an Instagram Live session. During the interaction, Sambyal said, “In everyone’s life there are situations and instances which change your life forever,” while also stating that he had no immediate plans to marry.
What is clear is that Sambyal has ended a significant chapter of his military career after approximately 12 years of service.
His public professional profile now describes him as a military professional with experience in leadership, strategic planning, risk management and operational coordination.
For now, his next career move remains unknown. But from leading a Republic Day contingent and serving with the Special Forces to becoming President Murmu’s ADC and an unexpected social media favourite, Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal’s journey has taken him well beyond the usual public profile of a military officer.
