Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy

Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy was the title of the commanding officer of the Royal Indian Navy from its formation in 1934 until India became a republic on 26 January 1950, when the prefix "Royal" was dropped. The position was held by a senior Royal Navy admiral until 1958, and was re-designated as "Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy" in 1955.

From 1876 to 1928, the Director of HM Indian Marine (Royal Indian Marine from 1892) was a Royal Navy captain; however, it was customary for the Director to be promoted to rear-admiral on the retired list following his retirement. In 1928, the position was officially raised to the flag rank of rear-admiral, and the designation changed to Flag Officer Commanding and Director, Royal Indian Marine. In 1934, the designation changed to Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Navy, and the office was raised to the rank of vice-admiral in 1936.

Director of HM Indian Marine (1876-1892)

Captain H.W. Brent RN (1876-1883)
Captain John Hext RN (1883-1892)^[1]

Director of the Royal Indian Marine (1892-1928)

Rear-Admiral Sir John Hext KCIE, RN (14 October 1842 - 8 May 1924) (1892 - 1898)
Captain Walter Somerville Goodridge CIE, RN (30 March 1849 - 2 April 1929)^[2]^[3]^[4] (1898-1904)
Captain George Hayley Hewett CIE, RN (12 November 1855 - 1930) (1904-1909)^[5]^[6]
Captain Walter Lumsden CIE, CVO, RN (16 April 1865 - 22 November 1947) (1909-1917)^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]
Captain Neville Frederick Jarvis Wilson CMG, CBE, RIM (1865-1947) (1917-1920)^[11]
Rear-Admiral Henry Lancelot Mawbey CB, CVO, RN (16 June 1870- 4 June 1933) (1920-1922)^[12]^[13]
Captain Sir Edward James Headlam CSI, CMG, DSO (1 May 1873-14 July 1943) (1922-1928)^[14]

Flag Officer Commanding and Director, Royal Indian Marine (1928-1934)

Vice-Admiral Sir Humphrey T. Walwyn KCSI, CB, DSO, RN (1928-October 1934)

Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Navy (1934-1947)

No.	Name	Appointment Date	Left Office	Decorations
1	Vice-Admiral Sir Humphrey Walwyn^[15]	October 1934	November 1934	KCSI CB DSO
2	Rear-Admiral Arthur Edward Frederick Bedford^[15]^[16]	November 1934	20 November 1937	CB CSI
3	Vice-Admiral Sir Herbert Fitzherbert^[17]	20 November 1937	22 March 1943	KCIE CB CMG
4	Admiral John Henry Godfrey^[15]	22 March 1943	15 March 1946	CB
5	Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey John Audley Miles^[17]	15 March 1946	15 August 1947	KCB KCSI

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

No.	Name	Appointment Date	Left Office	Decorations
1	Rear Admiral John Talbot Savignac Hall*	August 15, 1947	August 14, 1948	CIE
2	Admiral Sir William Edward Parry*	August 14, 1948	January 26, 1950	KCB

On 26 January 1950, the Royal Indian Navy became the Indian Navy when India became a republic. Parry then became the first Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy, and left office on 13 October 1951.