Chief of the Naval Staff (India)
Flag of the Chief of the Naval Staff
Incumbent
Admiral R. Hari Kumar
PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC
since 30 November 2021
 Indian Navy
StatusTitular-cum-professional head of naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces.
AbbreviationCNS
Member ofStrategic Policy Group
Defence Planning Committee
National Security Council
Defence Acquisition Council
Reports to President of India
Prime Minister of India
Minister of Defence
Chief of Defence Staff
SeatIntegrated HQ of MoD (Navy), South Block, Central Secretariat, New Delhi
AppointerAppointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)
President of India
Term length3 years or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier.
Constituting instrumentNavy Act, 1957 (Act No. 62 of 1957)
PrecursorChief of the Naval Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy
Formation26 January 1950; 74 years ago (1950-01-26)
First holderVice-Admiral Edward Parry
Deputy Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
Salary₹250,000 (US$3,100) monthly[1][2]

The Chief of the Naval Staff, (CNS) has been the title of the professional head of the Indian Navy since 1955 and is a statutory position in the Indian Armed Forces held by a four star admiral. As the highest-ranking officer assigned to serve in the Indian Navy, the chief is the principal military advisor on naval affairs and a deputy to the Union Minister of Defence. In a separate capacity, the CNS is a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and, thereby, a military advisor to the National Security Council (India), the prime minister and the president. The CNS is typically the highest-ranking officer on active duty of the Indian Navy unless the Chief of the Defence Staff is a naval officer.

The CNS heads the military staff of the Indian Navy and advises both the president of the Republic and the prime minister on naval affairs. The current CNS is Admiral R. Hari Kumar. The 25th Navy Chief, he took over from Karambir Singh, who retired on 30 November 2021 after four decades of service from the navy.[3]

Office of the Chief of the Naval Staff

At Independence, the head of the Navy was designated the "Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy."[4] On 21 June 1948, the title of "Chief of the Naval Staff" was added,[5] with a re-designation to "Chief of the Naval Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy".

The "Royal" designation was dropped when India became a republic on 26 January 1950. Thus re-designating the head of Indian Navy to "Chief of the Naval Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy".

The "Commanders-In-Chief (Change in Designation) Act, 1955" re-designated the head of Indian Navy to "Chief of the Naval Staff".[6] The post was held by a three-star rank Vice Admiral until 1968, when it was upgraded to the four-star rank of a full Admiral.

Appointments to the office are made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). The Chief of the Naval Staff generally reaches superannuation upon serving three years or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier.

Appointees

See also: Royal Indian Navy § Commanding officers

Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy (1947–1948)

No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office Ref.
1
John Talbot Savignac Hall CIE
Hall, John Talbot SavignacRear Admiral
John Talbot Savignac Hall CIE
(1896–1964)		15 August 194720 June 1948310 days[7][8]

Chief of the Naval Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy (1948–1950)

No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office Ref.
1
John Talbot Savignac Hall CIE
Hall, John Talbot SavignacRear Admiral
John Talbot Savignac Hall CIE
(1896–1964)		21 June 194814 August 194854 days[7][9]
2
Sir William Edward Parry KCB
Parry, William EdwardVice Admiral
Sir William Edward Parry KCB
(1893–1972)		14 August 194825 January 19501 year, 164 days.

Chief of the Naval Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy (1950–1955)

No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
1
Sir William Edward Parry KCB [10]
Parry, William EdwardVice-Admiral
Sir William Edward Parry KCB [10]
(1893–1972)		26 January 195013 October 19511 year, 260 days
2
Sir Charles Thomas Mark Pizey KBE, CB, DSO & Bar
Pizey, Charles Thomas MarkAdmiral
Sir Charles Thomas Mark Pizey KBE, CB, DSO & Bar
(1899–1993)		13 October 195131 March 19553 years, 169 days

Chief of the Naval Staff (1955–present)

No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
1
Sir Charles Thomas Mark Pizey KBE, CB, DSO & Bar
Pizey, CharlesAdmiral
Sir Charles Thomas Mark Pizey KBE, CB, DSO & Bar
(1899–1993)		1 April 195521 July 1955111 days
2
Sir Stephen Hope Carlill KBE, CB, DSO & Bar
Carlill, Stephen HopeVice-Admiral
Sir Stephen Hope Carlill KBE, CB, DSO & Bar
(1902–1996)		21 July 195521 April 19582 years, 274 days
3
Ram Dass Katari
Katari, Ram DassVice-Admiral
Ram Dass Katari
(1911–1983)		22 April 19584 June 19624 years, 43 days
4
Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman
Soman, Bhaskar SadashivVice-Admiral
Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman
(1913–1995)		4 June 19623 March 19663 years, 272 days
5
Adhar Kumar Chatterji
Chatterji, Adhar KumarAdmiral
Adhar Kumar Chatterji
(1914–2001)		3 March 196628 February 19703 years, 362 days
6
Sardarilal Mathradas Nanda PVSM, AVSM
Nanda, Sardarilal MathradasAdmiral
Sardarilal Mathradas Nanda PVSM, AVSM
(1915–2009)		28 February 197028 February 19733 years
7
Sourendra Nath Kohli PVSM
Kohli, Sourendra NathAdmiral
Sourendra Nath Kohli PVSM
(1916–1997)		1 March 197329 February 19762 years, 365 days
8
Jal Cursetji PVSM
Cursetji, JalAdmiral
Jal Cursetji PVSM
(1919–1991)		1 March 19761 March 19793 years
9
Ronald Lynsdale Pereira PVSM, AVSM
Pereira, Ronald LynsdaleAdmiral
Ronald Lynsdale Pereira PVSM, AVSM
(1923–1993)		1 March 197928 February 19822 years, 364 days
10
Oscar Stanley Dawson PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Dawson, Oscar StanleyAdmiral
Oscar Stanley Dawson PVSM, AVSM, ADC
(1923–2011)		1 March 198230 November 19842 years, 274 days
11
Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani PVSM, AVSM
Tahiliani, Radhakrishna HariramAdmiral
Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani PVSM, AVSM
(1930–2015)		1 December 198430 November 19872 years, 364 days
12
Jayant Ganpat Nadkarni PVSM, AVSM, NM, VSM, ADC
Nadkarni, Jayant GanpatAdmiral
Jayant Ganpat Nadkarni PVSM, AVSM, NM, VSM, ADC
(1931–2018)		1 December 198730 November 19902 years, 364 days
13
Laxminarayan Ramdas PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, ADC
Ramdas, LaxminarayanAdmiral
Laxminarayan Ramdas PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, ADC
(born 1933)		1 December 199030 September 19932 years, 303 days
14
Vijai Singh Shekhawat PVSM, AVSM, VrC, ADC
Shekhawat, Vijai SinghAdmiral
Vijai Singh Shekhawat PVSM, AVSM, VrC, ADC
(born 1937[11])		1 October 199330 September 19962 years, 365 days
15
Vishnu Bhagwat PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Bhagwat, VishnuVishnu Bhagwat PVSM, AVSM, ADC
(born 1939[12])		1 October 199630 December 19982 years, 90 days
16
Sushil Kumar PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, NM, ADC
Kumar, SushilAdmiral
Sushil Kumar PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, NM, ADC
(1940–2019[13])		30 December 199829 December 20012 years, 364 days
17
Madhvendra Singh PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Singh, MadhvendraAdmiral
Madhvendra Singh PVSM, AVSM, ADC
(born 1942[14])		29 December 200131 July 20042 years, 215 days
18
Arun Prakash PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, ADC
Prakash, ArunAdmiral
Arun Prakash PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, ADC
(born 1944)		31 July 200431 October 20062 years, 215 days
19
Sureesh Mehta PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Mehta, SureeshAdmiral
Sureesh Mehta PVSM, AVSM, ADC
(born 1947)		31 October 200631 August 20092 years, 304 days
20
Nirmal Kumar Verma PVSM, AVSM
Verma, Nirmal KumarAdmiral
Nirmal Kumar Verma PVSM, AVSM
(born 1951)		31 August 200931 August 20123 years
21
Devendra Kumar Joshi PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM, ADC
Joshi, Devendra KumarAdmiral
Devendra Kumar Joshi PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM, ADC
(born 1954)		31 August 201226 February 20141 year, 179 days
–
Robin K. Dhowan PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC
Dhowan, RobinVice Admiral
Robin K. Dhowan PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC
(born 1954)
Acting		26 February 201417 April 201450 days
22
Robin K. Dhowan PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC
Dhowan, RobinAdmiral
Robin K. Dhowan PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC
(born 1954)		17 April 201431 May 20162 years, 44 days
23
Sunil Lanba PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Lanba, SunilAdmiral
Sunil Lanba PVSM, AVSM, ADC
(born 1957)		31 May 201631 May 20193 years
24
Karambir Singh PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Admiral
Karambir Singh PVSM, AVSM, ADC
(born 1959)
[15]		31 May 201930 November 20212 years, 183 days
25
R. Hari Kumar PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC
Admiral
R. Hari Kumar PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC
(born 1962)
[3]		30 November 2021Incumbent2 years, 93 days

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chief of the Naval Staff (India).
  1. ^ "Report of the 7th Central Pay Commission of India" (PDF). Seventh Central Pay Commission, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  2. ^ Biswas, Shreya, ed. (29 June 2016). "7th Pay Commission cleared: What is the Pay Commission? How does it affect salaries?". India Today. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar to be next chief of naval staff". Times of India. 9 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Press Note" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 10 February 1947. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Press Communique" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 21 June 1948. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  6. ^ "The Commanders-In-Chief (Change in Designation) Act, 1955". VakilNo1.com. Archived from the original on 11 November 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  7. ^ a b "World War II unit histories & officers". unithistories.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Press Note" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 10 February 1947. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Press Communique" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 21 June 1948. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Hon'ble President Shri Ram Nath Kovind to award the President's colour to Indian Naval Academy". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  11. ^ Service Chiefs of India, S.Sartaj Alam Abidi & Satinder Sharma P. 127
  12. ^ Service Chiefs of India, S.Sartaj Alam Abidi & Satinder Sharma P. 131
  13. ^ "Former Indian Navy chief Sushil Kumar dies".
  14. ^ Service Chiefs of India, S.Sartaj Alam Abidi & Satinder Sharma P. 135
  15. ^ "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh appointed next Navy Chief". The Hindu. 23 March 2019.
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