Chief of the Naval Staff (India)

Chief of the Naval Staff (India)
CNS

Naval Ensign of India

Flag of Admiral of the Indian Navy
Incumbent
Admiral Robin K Dhowan
since 17 April 2014
Indian Navy
Seat Central Secretariat
Appointer The President of India
Term length
3 years or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier.
Precursor Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy
Formation 1 April 1955
First holder Admiral Sir Charles Thomas Mark Pizey

The Chief of the Naval Staff is the commander and the highest-ranking officer in the Indian Navy. The position is abbreviated CNS in Indian Navy cables and communication, and usually held by a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral.

The current CNS is Admiral Robin K. Dhowan. The 22nd Navy Chief, he took over from Admiral D K Joshi, who resigned on 26 February 2014, owning moral responsibility for warship and submarine accidents over the past six months.[1][2] [3]

Office of the Chief of the Naval Staff

The office the Chief of the Naval Staff was created by The Commanders-In-Chief (Change in Designation) Act of the Indian Parliament in 1955, replacing the erstwhile office of the Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy.[4] The office is based at South Block in Raisina Hill.

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

Appointees

The following tables chronicle the appointees to the office of the Chief of the Naval Staff or its preceding positions since the independence of India.[5]

(**Seconded from the Royal Navy)

Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy (1947-1950)

No. Name Rank Photo Appointment Date Left Office Decorations
1 John Talbot Savignac Hall* Rear Admiral 15 August 1947 14 August 1948 CIE
2 Sir William Edward Parry* Vice Admiral 14 August 1948 25 January 1950 KCB

Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy (1950-1955)

No. Name Rank Photo Appointment Date Left Office Decorations
1 Sir William Edward Parry** Admiral 26 January 1950 13 October 1951 KCB
2 Sir Charles Thomas Mark Pizey** Admiral 13 October 1951 31 March 1955 KBE, CB, DSO & Bar

Chief of the Naval Staff (1955-present)

No. Name Rank Photo Appointment Date Left Office Decorations
1 Sir Charles Thomas Mark Pizey** Admiral 1 April 1955 21 July 1955 KBE, CB, DSO & Bar
2 Sir Stephen Hope Carlill** Vice Admiral 21 July 1955 21 April 1958 KBE, CB, DSO
3 Ram Dass Katari Vice Admiral 22 April 1958 4 June 1962 -
4 Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman Vice Admiral 4 June 1962 3 March 1966 -
5 Adhar Kumar Chatterji Admiral 3 March 1966 28 February 1970 -
6 Sardarilal Mathradas Nanda Admiral 28 February 1970 28 February 1973 Padma Vibhushan, PVSM, AVSM
7 Sourendra Nath Kohli Admiral 1 March 1973 29 February 1976 Padma Bhushan, PVSM
8 Jal Cursetji Admiral 1 March 1976 1 March 1979 PVSM
9 Ronald Lynsdale Pereira Admiral 1 March 1979 28 February 1982 PVSM, AVSM
10 Oscar Stanley Dawson Admiral 1 March 1982 30 November 1984 PVSM, AVSM, ADC
11 Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani Admiral 1 December 1984 30 November 1987 PVSM, AVSM
12 Jayant Ganpat Nadkarni Admiral 1 December 1987 30 November 1990 PVSM, AVSM, NM, VSM, ADC
13 Laxminarayan Ramdas Admiral 1 December 1990 30 September 1993 PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, ADC
14 Vijai Singh Shekhawat Admiral 1 October 1993 30 September 1996 PVSM, AVSM, VrC, ADC
15 Vishnu Bhagwat Admiral 1 October 1996 30 December 1998 PVSM, AVSM, ADC
16 Sushil Kumar Admiral 30 December 1998 29 December 2001 PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM, ADC
17 Madhvendra Singh Admiral 29 December 2001 31 July 2004 PVSM, AVSM, ADC
18 Arun Prakash Admiral 31 July 2004 31 October 2006 PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, ADC
19 Sureesh Mehta Admiral 31 October 2006 31 August 2009 PVSM, AVSM, ADC
20 Nirmal Kumar Verma Admiral 31 August 2009 31 August 2012 PVSM, AVSM
21 Devendra Kumar Joshi Admiral 31 August 2012 26 February 2014 PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, NM, ADC
22 Robin K Dhowan Admiral 17 April 2014[6] Incumbent PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC

References

  1. ↑ Kumar, Vinay (5 June 2012). "Admiral Joshi to take over as new Naval Chief". The Hindu (Chennai, India).
  2. ↑ "Admiral Joshi Resigns.". The Times of India. Retrieved 2014-02-26.
  3. ↑ http://indiannavy.nic.in/about-indian-navy/chief-naval-staff
  4. ↑ "The Commanders-In-Chief (Change in Designation) Act, 1955". VakilNo1.com. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  5. ↑ "Chiefs of Naval Staff". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  6. ↑ Acting CNS from 26 February 2014 to 17 April 2014, with the rank of Vice-Admiral