Who Is Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal? The National Crush Who Took Premature Retirement

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For months, he stood a step behind President Droupadi Murmu; holding an umbrella over her in the rain, offering a handkerchief during an emotional moment, never once breaking bearing. That quiet presence made Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal, the President's Aide-de-Camp, one of the most searched serving officers in the country. Now, that chapter has closed. Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal has taken premature retirement from the Indian Army.

Photo Credit: Instagram: @major_rs_sambyal

The confirmation came from an unlikely place: the President's own photo archive. A Rashtrapati Bhavan digital library entry dated 21 August 2026 identified him as "Maj Rishab Sambyal (Retd.), former ADC to the President," recorded during a meeting with President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. It was the clearest official word yet on a departure that social media had been speculating about for days.

The Making of a "National Crush"

Before he was anyone's aide-de-camp, Sambyal was a Captain in the Jat Regiment, where he led the regiment's contingent at the 2021 Republic Day Parade, winning the Best Marching Contingent Trophy. He went on to volunteer for the gruelling 4 Para (Special Forces) selection - the "Daggers" - and earned the Balidaan Badge, an honour achieved by only a small fraction of volunteers.

Around 2024-25, he was picked as one of President Murmu's ADCs, a posting built on discretion. Instead, small on-duty gestures - holding an umbrella over the President in the rain, offering a handkerchief during an emotional moment, assisting on temple steps went viral, turning a low-profile officer into what social media nicknamed the "national crush."

The Retirement, and the Silence Around Why

Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal hails from a Dogra Rajput family in Jammu with a military tradition, and by his own account, has spent roughly 12 years associated with the Army: three at the National Defence Academy, one at the Indian Military Academy, and about eight as a commissioned officer.

The Army has not issued a detailed statement on why he opted for premature retirement, and reports have urged caution around unverified claims. What is on record is a video message he posted after leaving the post, in which he reflected on the decision. "In everyone's life there are situations and instances which change your life forever," he said, explaining that personal and family reasons drove the decision to leave. He also said the choice had his family's backing, and that he had no immediate marriage plans.

His own summing-up of over a decade in uniform was blunter. "Do not give up," he said - a line his admirers online have held onto more than any of the viral clips.

What Comes Next

Sambyal's professional profile now describes him as someone with over a decade of experience in leadership, strategic planning and operational coordination - the language of a person preparing for a new chapter, even if he hasn't named it yet. For now, the closest thing to closure is the photograph from Rashtrapati Bhavan: a retired Major, out of uniform, thanking the President who once trusted him to stand a step behind her.