Chief of the Naval Staff (India)

File:Secretariat Building South Block.jpg, New Delhi - the station of the IHQ of MoD (Navy), where the CNS is seated.]]

Seated at Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Navy) (IHQ of MoD (Navy)), stationed in New Delhi, the CNS is the senior-most operational officer of the IN, and is tasked with the following:

• Advising the Central Government on all matters privy to the IN.
• Commitment to enhancing the force's capabilities towards sustaining combat readiness and operational effectiveness during periods of peace and conflict.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spsmai.com/military/?id=3272&q=Operational-consolidation-and-enhanced-combat-effectiveness-top-priorities-Naval-Chief|title=Operational consolidation and enhanced combat effectiveness top priorities: Naval Chief|website=www.spsmai.com|date=1 November 2014}}
• Coordinating various components of the IN towards the protection-cum-realization of the nation's maritime sovereignty during states of armed conflict or war.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/Nov/07/committed-to-enhancing-presence-in-indian-ocean-region-2630819.html|title=Committed to enhancing presence in Indian ocean region: Navy Chief|website=www.newindianexpress.com|date= 7 November 2023}}
• Providing direction towards the overall functioning of the organization's facets, such as command, control, administration and strategy.{{Cite web|url=https://knowindia.india.gov.in/my-india-my-pride/indian-armed-forces.php|title=Indian Armed Forces|website=knowindia.india.gov.in}}
• Convening courts-martial at the behest of the Central Government to review cases of misconduct during peace and wartime.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mod.gov.in/sites/default/files/NavyAct1957.pdf|title=The Navy Act, 1957}}
• Reviewing the judicial sentencing and pleas of officers convicted of professional misconduct whilst in service.

In addition to these responsibilities, the CAS is also a permanent member of:

• Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC)
• National Security Council (NSC)
• Defence Planning Committee (DPC)
• Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)

The office's eminence in the aforementioned groups thus grants the appointee with the role to advise the Minister of Defence (Raksha Mantri or RM) on the affairs related to the IN's functioning and the promotion of an comprehensive integrated planning policy with respect to the affairs of tri-service integration, doctrinal strategy, capability development, defence acquisition and infrastructure.{{Cite web|url=https://www.orfonline.org/research/cds-rawat-to-face-hurdles-sabotage-unless-rules-are-rewritten-59762|title=Civil-military relations in Independent India|website=www.orfonline.org|date=15 August 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.orfonline.org/research/cds-rawat-to-face-hurdles-sabotage-unless-rules-are-rewritten-59762|title=CDS Rawat to face hurdles & sabotage unless rules are rewritten|website=www.orfonline.org|date=2 January 2020}}

As the professional head of the force, the CNS is assisted by one subordinate officer and three principal staff officers, namely:

• Subordinate:
• Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS)
• Principal Staff Officers:{{cite web|title=Principal Staff Officers|url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/principal-staff-officers|website=www.indiannavy.nic.in|date=12 January 2022}}
• Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS)
• Chief of Materiel (COM)
• Chief of Personnel (COP)

Initially, beginning in the pre-independence era, until 1968, the office of CNS was held by a three-star vice admiral.{{cite web|url=https://thedailyguardian.com/remembering-the-admiral-who-shed-his-vice-and-built-the-navy/|title=Remembering the Admiral who shed his vice and built the Navy|website=thedailyguardian.com|date=15 August 2020}} However, the office's rank-specifications was raised to the four-star rank of admiral when then-CNS Vice Admiral Adhar Kumar Chatterji was promoted in March 1968; every CNS-appointee since then has been an admiral.

The move to appoint a new designate to the position usually begins several months before the change-of-command, wherein the Ministry of Defence (MoD) reviews the résumés of the IN's senior-most vice admirals, which regularly includes the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS), the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chiefs (FOC-in-C) of the force's three combatant commands and the Commander-in-Chiefs (C-in-C) of India's two integrated military commands.{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/election-commission-nod-to-government-for-appointment-of-new-navy-chief/articleshow/32551664.cms?from=mdr|title=Election Commission nod to government for appointment of new Navy chief|website=economictimes.indiatimes.com|date=23 March 2014}}

Appointments to the position are made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) - comprising the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence, upon recommendation from IHQ of MoD (Navy), whereupon the designated appointee is subsequently promoted to the rank of admiral.{{Cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2018213#:~:text=Vice%20Admiral%20Dinesh%20Kumar%20Tripathi,Chief%20of%20the%20Naval%20Staff|title=Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi appointed as the next Chief of the Naval Staff|website=pib.gov.in|date=19 April 2024}}

According to Part III of the IN's Regulations for the Navy, 1991 - a CNS-appointee reaches superannuation upon the completion of three years in the position or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mod.gov.in/dod/sites/default/files/RegsNavyIII.pdf|title=

REGULATIONS FOR THE NAVY PART III (Naval Ceremonial, Conditions and Service and Miscellaneous Regulation 1963)|website=www.mod.gov.in}} However, an appointee may also be dismissed from office by the President of India before the conclusion of the tenure under the Section 15(1) of the Navy Act, 1957 and Article 310 of the Constitution.{{Cite web|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1342309/#:~:text=(1)Except%20as%20expressly%20provided,every%20person%20who%20is%20a|title=Article 310 in Constitution of India|website=indiankanoon.org}} This provision was used by then-President K. R. Narayanan to dismiss then-CNS Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat from service in December 1998.

Between 1950 and 1990, the senior-most vice admirals in the IN's command cadre have customarily been appointed as CNS, even under the event of an abrupt stoppage during the incumbent's tenure - by termination or resignation; however, this tradition has since been broken thrice: first in 1990, when then CNS-designate Vice Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas superseded one senior officer, and again in 2014 and 2016, when then-Vice Admirals Robin K. Dhowan and Karambir Singh were appointed to the office superseding one senior officer, respectively.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/dhowans-appointment-a-rare-departure-from-principle/article5923687.ece|title=Dhowan's appointment a rare departure from principle|website=www.thehindu.com|date=21 May 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/defence/vice-admiral-karambir-singh-is-new-navy-chief-supersedes-vice-admiral-bimal-verma/210645/|title=Vice Admiral Karambir Singh is new Navy chief, supersedes Vice Admiral Bimal Verma|website=23 March 2019}}

Additionally, a CNS-appointee is also eligible to be selected for the position of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), in accordance with the Naval Ceremonial, Conditions of Service and Miscellaneous (Amendment) Regulations, 2022 - which prescribes that the designated nominee, in this case the CNS, must be under the age of 62 at the time of appointment as CDS; as of 2024, no CNS-appointee has ever been appointed as CDS.{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/video/watch-lt-general-anil-chauhan-cds-karan-thapar-ajai-shukla|title=Watch - Navy or IAF Officer Should've Been Made CDS but Lt Gen Chauhan a Good Choice: Ajai Shukla|website=thewire.in|date=29 September 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://images.assettype.com/barandbench/2022-06/56494444-f00a-482f-8f12-f2a18091aa08/Ministry_of_Defence_Notifications__CDS_.pdf|title=MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (Department of Defence) NOTIFICATION|website=assettype.com}} Although the office of CDS was originally created in 2019, the MoD had originally planned for it to be created in 2001 with then-CNS Admiral Sushil Kumar as its first appointee; however, the plan failed to materialize over interservice rivalry and Kumar never became the CDS.{{Cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/news/2001/apr/11sush.htm|title=Admiral Sushil Kumar appointed Chief of Defence Staff|website=m.rediff.com|date=10 April 2001}}{{Cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/news/2001/apr/27ashok.htm|title=Made in India CDS|website=m.rediff.com|date=10 April 2001}}

Following independence and the subsequent partition of the subcontinent, the RIN was bifurcated into two new entities: the successor Royal Indian Navy (RIN) - responsible for the Dominion of India, and the newly-formed Royal Pakistan Navy (RPN) - responsible for the Dominion of Pakistan. At the time, the RIN's commanding officer was designated the Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy."{{cite web|title=Press Note|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1947-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1947-02-10_056.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=10 February 1947|access-date=16 February 2020}} On 21 June 1948, the title of "Chief of the Naval Staff" was added,{{cite web|title=Press Communique|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-06-21_287.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=21 June 1948|access-date=21 July 2020}} On 21 June 1948, the officer was re-designated as Chief of the Naval Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy (CNS/C-in-C, RIN) - as a measure to reflect uniformity with the C-in-Cs of the post-independence Indian Army and the Royal Indian Air Force.{{cite web|title=Press Communique|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-06-21_287.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=21 June 1948|access-date=16 February 2020|archive-date=16 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216211701/http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-06-21_287.pdf|url-status=live}}

Upon India's establishment as a republic on 26 January 1950, the RIN was rechristened as the Indian Navy (IN), dropping the Royal-prefix; subsequently, the position's designation was again modified to Chief of the Naval Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy (CNS/C-in-C, IN).{{Cite web|url=https://desanavy.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/quarter-deck.pdf|title=Transition - RIN to IN|website=desanavy.wordpress.com}}

In 1955, the designation of the office was shortened to simply to Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) through the Commanders-In-Chief (Change in Designation) Act, 1955; as a result of the Act, the tenure of the then-serving C-in-C - Admiral Sir Charles Thomas Mark Pizey, continued under the new designation.{{cite web|url=http://www.vakilno1.com/bareacts/laws/The-Commanders-In-Chief-Change-in-Designation-Act-1955.html|title=The Commanders-In-Chief (Change in Designation) Act, 1955|publisher=VakilNo1.com|access-date=18 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111144149/http://vakilno1.com/bareacts/laws/The-Commanders-In-Chief-Change-in-Designation-Act-1955.html|archive-date=11 November 2011|df=dmy-all}} Between 1950 and 1958, the office was officiated by flag officers seconded from the RN, which ceased with the appointment of Vice Admiral Ram Dass Katari in April 1958 - which thus made him the first Indian officer to be promoted to the rank, and subsequently, the first Indian-origin chief of the IN.{{cite web |title=FIRST INDIAN OFFICER TO COMMAND THE NAVY |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1959-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1958-02-03_088.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=3 February 1958}}{{cite web |title=CHANGE OF NAVAL COMMAND |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1959-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1958-04-18_236.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=18 April 1958}} Ten years later, in March 1968, the rank-specifications for the office was raised to the rank of admiral, with the promotion of then-CNS Vice Admiral Adhar Kumar Chatterji.

In December 1998, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, the then-incumbent CNS and Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (Chairman COSC), was abruptly dismissed from office, which made him the only CNS-appointee - and the only-ever military chief in the Indian Armed Forces to be relieved from service to date.{{Cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/news/1998/dec/30navy.htm|title=Navy chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat sacked; wife blames 'communal politics'|website=m.rediff.com|date=30 December 1998}}{{Cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/news/1999/jan/02bhag.htm|title=Bhagwat was sacked after reneging on compromise deal, say officials|website=m.rediff.com|date=2 January 1999}}

{{See also|Royal Indian Navy#Commanding officers}}

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{{Officeholder table

| order= 1

| image= John Talbot Savignac Hall.jpg

| military_rank= Rear Admiral

| officeholder = John Talbot Savignac Hall {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CIE}}

| officeholder_sort = Hall, John Talbot Savignac

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1896

| died_year = 1964

| term_start = 15 August 1947

| term_end = 20 June 1948

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1947|08|15|1948|06|20}}

| ref = {{cite web|url=http://www.unithistories.com/units_index/default.asp?file=../officers/personsx.html|title=World War II unit histories & officers|work=unithistories.com|access-date=6 March 2021|archive-date=4 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204165504/http://www.unithistories.com/units_index/default.asp?file=..%2Fofficers%2Fpersonsx.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Press Note|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1947-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1947-02-10_056.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=10 February 1947|accessdate=26 January 2020}}

}}

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{{Officeholder table

| order= 1

| image= John Talbot Savignac Hall.jpg

| military_rank= Rear Admiral

| officeholder = John Talbot Savignac Hall {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CIE}}

| officeholder_sort = Hall, John Talbot Savignac

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1896

| died_year = 1964

| term_start = 21 June 1948

| term_end = 14 August 1948

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1948|06|21|1948|08|14}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 2

| image = Edward Parry of HMS Achilles.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral

| officeholder = Sir William Edward Parry {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|KCB}}

| officeholder_sort = Parry, William Edward

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1893

| died_year = 1972

| term_start = 14 August 1948

| term_end = 25 January 1950

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1948|08|14|1950|01|25}}

| ref = .

}}

{{Officeholder table end}}

{{Officeholder table start

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{{Officeholder table

| order = 2

| image = Edward Parry of HMS Achilles.jpg

| military_rank = Vice-Admiral

| officeholder = Sir William Edward Parry {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|KCB}} {{Cite web|title=Hon'ble President Shri Ram Nath Kovind to award the President's colour to Indian Naval Academy|url=http://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1591924|access-date=2021-03-08|website=pib.gov.in}}

| officeholder_sort = Parry, William Edward

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1893

| died_year = 1972

| term_start = 26 January 1950

| term_end = 13 October 1951

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1950|01|26|1951|10|13}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 3

| image = Mark Pizey (cropped).jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Sir Charles Thomas Mark Pizey {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|KBE|CB|DSO1}}

| officeholder_sort = Pizey, Charles Thomas Mark

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1899

| died_year = 1993

| term_start = 13 October 1951

| term_end = 31 March 1955

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1951|10|13|1955|03|31}}

}}

{{Officeholder table end}}

{{Officeholder table start

| showorder = y

| showimage = y

| image_title = Portrait

| officeholder_title = Name

| showtermlenght = y

| showparty = n

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}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 1

| image = Mark Pizey (cropped).jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Sir Charles Thomas Mark Pizey {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|KBE|CB|DSO1}}

| officeholder_sort = Pizey, Charles

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1899

| died_year = 1993

| term_start = 1 April 1955

| term_end = 21 July 1955

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1955|04|01|1955|07|21}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 2

| image = No image available.svg

| military_rank = Vice-Admiral

| officeholder = Sir Stephen Hope Carlill {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|KBE|CB|DSO1}}

| officeholder_sort = Carlill, Stephen Hope

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1902

| died_year = 1996

| term_start = 21 July 1955

| term_end = 21 April 1958

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1955|07|21|1958|04|21}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 3

| image =

| military_rank = Vice-Admiral

| officeholder = Ram Dass Katari

| officeholder_sort = Katari, Ram Dass

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1911

| died_year = 1983

| term_start = 22 April 1958

| term_end = 4 June 1962

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1958|04|22|1962|06|04}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 4

| image = No image available.svg

| military_rank = Vice-Admiral

| officeholder = Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman

| officeholder_sort = Soman, Bhaskar Sadashiv

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1913

| died_year = 1995

| term_start = 4 June 1962

| term_end = 3 March 1966

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1962|06|04|1966|03|03}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 5

| image = Admiral AK Chatterji.jpg|100px

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Adhar Kumar Chatterji

| officeholder_sort = Chatterji, Adhar Kumar

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1914

| died_year = 2001

| term_start = 3 March 1966

| term_end = 28 February 1970

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1966|03|03|1970|02|28}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 6

| image = Admiral SM Nanda.jpg|100px

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Sardarilal Mathradas Nanda {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}

| officeholder_sort = Nanda, Sardarilal Mathradas

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1915

| died_year = 2009

| term_start = 28 February 1970

| term_end = 28 February 1973

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|1970|02|28|1973|02|28}} years

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 7

| image = Adm SN Kohli.jpg|100px

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Sourendra Nath Kohli {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM}}

| officeholder_sort = Kohli, Sourendra Nath

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1916

| died_year = 1997

| term_start = 1 March 1973

| term_end = 29 February 1976

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1973|03|01|1976|02|29}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 8

| image = No image available.svg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Jal Cursetji {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM}}

| officeholder_sort = Cursetji, Jal

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1919

| died_year = 1991

| term_start = 1 March 1976

| term_end = 1 March 1979

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|1976|03|01|1979|03|01}} years

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 9

| image = Ronald-lynsdale-pereira.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Ronald Lynsdale Pereira {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}

| officeholder_sort = Pereira, Ronald Lynsdale

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1923

| died_year = 1993

| term_start = 1 March 1979

| term_end = 28 February 1982

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1979|03|01|1982|02|28}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 10

| image = Admiral Oscar Stanley Dawson.png

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Oscar Stanley Dawson {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|ADC}}

| officeholder_sort = Dawson, Oscar Stanley

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1923

| died_year = 2011

| term_start = 1 March 1982

| term_end = 30 November 1984

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1982|03|01|1984|11|30}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 11

| image = Admiral Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}

| officeholder_sort = Tahiliani, Radhakrishna Hariram

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1930

| died_year = 2015

| term_start = 1 December 1984

| term_end = 30 November 1987

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1984|12|01|1987|11|30}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 12

| image = Jayant Nadkarni.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Jayant Ganpat Nadkarni {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|NM|VSM|ADC}}

| officeholder_sort = Nadkarni, Jayant Ganpat

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1931

| died_year = 2018

| term_start = 1 December 1987

| term_end = 30 November 1990

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1987|12|01|1990|11|30}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 13

| image = Ramdas l.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Laxminarayan Ramdas {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VrC|VSM|ADC}}

| officeholder_sort = Ramdas, Laxminarayan

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1933

| died_year = 2024

| term_start = 1 December 1990

| term_end = 30 September 1993

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1990|12|01|1993|09|30}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 14

| image = Admiral_Vijai_Singh_Shekhawat.png

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Vijai Singh Shekhawat {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VrC|ADC}}

| officeholder_sort = Shekhawat, Vijai Singh

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1936Service Chiefs of India, S.Sartaj Alam Abidi & Satinder Sharma P. 127

| died_year =

| term_start = 1 October 1993

| term_end = 30 September 1996

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1993|10|01|1996|09|30}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 15

| image = No image available.svg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Vishnu Bhagwat {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|ADC}}

| officeholder_sort = Bhagwat, Vishnu

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1939Service Chiefs of India, S.Sartaj Alam Abidi & Satinder Sharma P. 131

| died_year =

| term_start = 1 October 1996

| term_end = 30 December 1998

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1996|10|01|1998|12|30}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 16

| image = Admiral Sushil Kumar.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Sushil Kumar {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|UYSM|AVSM|NM|ADC}}

| officeholder_sort = Kumar, Sushil

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1940

| died_year = 2019{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/former-indian-navy-chief-sushil-kumar-dies-1622954-2019-11-27|title=Former Indian Navy chief Sushil Kumar dies|date=27 November 2019|website=India Today}}

| term_start = 30 December 1998

| term_end = 29 December 2001

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1998|12|30|2001|12|29}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 17

| image = Admiral Madhvendra Singh.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Madhvendra Singh {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|ADC}}

| officeholder_sort = Singh, Madhvendra

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1942Service Chiefs of India, S.Sartaj Alam Abidi & Satinder Sharma P. 135

| died_year =

| term_start = 29 December 2001

| term_end = 31 July 2004

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2001|12|29|2004|07|31}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 18

| image = Arun Prakash.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Arun Prakash {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VrC|VSM|ADC}}

| officeholder_sort = Prakash, Arun

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1944

| died_year =

| term_start = 31 July 2004

| term_end = 31 October 2006

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2001|12|29|2004|07|31}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 19

| image = SureeshMehta (cropped).jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Sureesh Mehta {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|ADC}}

| officeholder_sort = Mehta, Sureesh

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1947

| died_year =

| term_start = 31 October 2006

| term_end = 31 August 2009

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2006|10|31|2009|08|31}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 20

| image = Admiral Verma.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Nirmal Kumar Verma {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM}}

| officeholder_sort = Verma, Nirmal Kumar

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1950

| died_year =

| term_start = 31 August 2009

| term_end = 31 August 2012

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|2009|08|31|2012|08|31}} years

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 21

| image = DK Joshi official portrait.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Devendra Kumar Joshi {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|YSM|NM|VSM|ADC}}

| officeholder_sort = Joshi, Devendra Kumar

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1954

| died_year =

| term_start = 31 August 2012

| term_end = 26 February 2014

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2012|08|31|2014|02|26}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image = CNS Adm. Robin K. Dhowan.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral

| officeholder = Robin K. Dhowan {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|YSM|ADC}}

| officeholder_sort = Dhowan, Robin

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1954

| died_year =

| term_start = 26 February 2014

| term_end = 17 April 2014

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|02|26|2014|04|17}}

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 22

| image = CNS Adm. Robin K. Dhowan.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Robin K. Dhowan {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|YSM|ADC}}

| officeholder_sort = Dhowan, Robin

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1954

| died_year =

| term_start = 17 April 2014

| term_end = 31 May 2016

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|04|17|2016|05|31}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 23

| image = Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chairman COSC and Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Sunil Lanba {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|ADC}}

| officeholder_sort = Lanba, Sunil

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1957

| died_year =

| term_start = 31 May 2016

| term_end = 31 May 2019

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|2016|05|31|2019|05|31}} years

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 24

| image = Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Karambir Singh {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|ADC}}

| officeholder_note = {{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/vice-admiral-karambir-singh-appointed-next-navy-chief/article26618416.ece|title = Vice Admiral Karambir Singh appointed next Navy Chief|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 23 March 2019}}

| born_year = 1959

| died_year =

| term_start = 31 May 2019

| term_end = 30 November 2021

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2019|05|31|2021|11|30}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 25

| image = Adm R. Hari Kumar CNS.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = R. Hari Kumar {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VSM|ADC}}

| officeholder_note = {{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/vice-admiral-r-hari-kumar-to-be-next-chief-of-naval-staff/articleshow/87613024.cms|title=Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar to be next chief of naval staff|publisher=Times of India|date=2021-11-09}}

| born_year = 1962

| died_year =

| term_start = 30 November 2021

| term_end = 30 April 2024

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2021|11|30|2024|04|30}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 26

| image = Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM.jpg

| officeholder = Dinesh Kumar Tripathi {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|NM}}

| military_rank = Admiral

| born_year = 1964

| died_year =

| officeholder_note = {{Cite news|url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2018213|title = Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi appointed as the next Chief of the Naval Staff|newspaper = PIB Delhi|date = 19 April 2024}}

| term_start = 30 April 2024

| term_end = Incumbent

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2024|4|30}}

}}

{{Officeholder table end}}

• Chief of Defence Staff
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Category:Indian military appointments

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