When Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal was spotted alongside the Indian President Droupadi Murmu as her Aide-de-Camp (ADC) for the first time, he quickly became a national crush. Since then, the cameras have captured their growing bond, which many have described as resembling that of a mother and son. Now, as he has chosen to leave the Army and retire from service, the camera is once again turning towards Sambyal, this time to understand his life, his journey and the decision behind walking away from the uniform at just 30.The former Special Forces officer and Aide-de-Camp to President Droupadi Murmu recently opened up about his decision on Raj Shamani’s podcast, describing premature retirement as one of the hardest decisions of his life. Later, he made a video explaining his hard decision. In the video, Sambyal says he chose to step away from the Indian Army because his life had reached a point where family, personal choices and his own future could no longer be kept aside.A career that began earlySambyal’s association with the armed forces began at a very young age. He joined the National Defence Academy and was subsequently trained at the Indian Military Academy. He went on to serve in the Army and became part of the elite 4 Para Special Forces. He also led the Jat Regiment contingent at the 2021 Republic Day Parade, when the contingent won the Best Marching Contingent Trophy.In 2023, he was selected as an Aide-de-Camp to President Droupadi Murmu. For around three years, he became a familiar figure beside the President during official engagements, ceremonies and public appearances.The cost of being an ADC
Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal retires from Army after serving as President Murmu’s ADC. (Photo: IG)
The most revealing part of Sambyal’s story was about the life he could not live. He has described the ADC assignment as a role in which there was little room for a normal personal life. Being around the President meant constant alertness, strict protocol and being available when required.Sambyal said that there is a restriction preventing a President’s ADC from marrying while serving in the role. He remained unmarried during his tenure and said that staying away from family was among the biggest sacrifices he had made. His social life and personal relationships had to take a back seat.He did not make the decision overnight
Major Sambyal (@major_rs_sambyal)
According to him, he spent nearly four months thinking about whether he should continue in the Army or seek premature retirement. It was a period of weighing what he had already achieved against what he wanted from the next phase of his life.He was not leaving after a short stint or at a moment when his military career had stalled. He was a Major, had served in the Special Forces and had held one of the most visible appointments an Army officer can receive.Family became more important
Sambyal became a social-media sensation during his tenure as President Murmu’s ADC.
The central reason behind his decision was personal and family-related circumstances.Military life had already kept him away from home, from his mother for a long time. Sambyal has spoken about not living with his mother since 2014 because of his military career, returning home only briefly before leaving again for months.Unexpected emotional connection with the PresidentHe also said that his time with President Murmu gave him an unexpected emotional connection to home. He recalled that when he first met her, he felt as if his own mother was standing in front of him. But perhaps that experience also made the absence of an ordinary family life more visible to him.After 12 years in uniform, he has said that he wants to explore his potential outside the Army and work on something that can influence and inspire young people. His military experience has given him discipline, leadership skills and an understanding of responsibility, qualities he now hopes to carry into his next chapter.
Rishabh Sambyal (@major_rs_sambyal)
The decision also puts his sudden retirement in a different light. Online speculation had linked his departure to marriage or plans to move abroad, but Sambyal has clarified that neither was the reason. He remains single and said he had no immediate marriage plans.At 30, he is starting again at an age when many people are only beginning to establish themselves professionally. Sambyal, however, is doing so after spending more than a decade in a demanding profession where duty came before almost everything else.For Sambyal, the answer was to take the difficult step away from the uniform and begin another chapter.
