 Rajendrasinhji Jadeja succeeded him as the C-in-C.

Cariappa was married in March 1937, in Secunderabad, to Muthu Machia, a forest officer's daughter.Though their married life was happy initially, later, due to an age gap of almost 17 years, ideological differences, and Cariappa's professional commitments, their marriage broke down.In September 1945, the couple separated without any formal divorce.