Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)

The Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS) is a senior appointment in the Indian Navy. The DCNS is a PSO (Principal Staff Officer) at Naval Headquarters in New Delhi.[1] The office is held by a Three star officer in the rank of Vice Admiral. The current DCNS is Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti who took over Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru on 1 October 2023.

Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
Flag of the Vice Admiral
Incumbent
Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, AVSM, VSM
since 1 October 2023
 Indian Navy
TypePrincipal Staff Officer
Status3rd highest ranking naval officer
AbbreviationDCNS
Reports toChief of the Naval Staff
SeatNaval Headquarters, New Delhi

History

At the time of independence of India on 15 August 1947, the Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy was the de facto Second-in-command. The appointment was held by an officer of the rank of Commodore. In 1949, the Chief of Staff was also made Deputy Commander-in-Chief RIN.[2] In 1955, the post was re-designated Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff.[3] In 1959, the post was upgraded to Two-star rank.[4] In 1967, this post was re-designated to Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and then Rear Admiral Sourendra Nath Kohli took over as the first VCNS.[5]

From 1972

The appointment was brought back in 1972 in the rank of Rear Admiral. The branch was responsible for Operations, Intelligence, Signals, Air Staff, Air Materiel and Submarines.[6] In 1984, the post was upgraded to three-star rank.[7]

Current organisation

The DCNS heads the Staff Branch-II at the Naval Headquarters. The following Director General/Assistant Principal Staff Officers report into the DCNS.[8]

  • Director General Naval Operations (DGNO)
    • Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Communication, Space and Network Centric Operations) (reports through the DGNO)
  • Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Co-operation & Intelligence)
  • Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air)
  • Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air Materiel)

Order of precedence

The DCNS ranks at No. 24 on the Indian order of precedence, along with Lieutenant Generals of the Indian Army and Air Marshals of the Indian Air Force.[9] The DCNS is in the HAG+ pay scale (pay level 16), and draws salary depending on the years in service. However, since they should not draw equivalent or more than the next higher level, the remuneration is capped at ₹224,000.[10][11]

Deputy Chiefs of Naval Staff

1947-1967
S.No. Name Assumed office Left office Notes
Chief of Staff to Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy
1 Commodore M. H. St. L. Nott DSO, OBE August 1947 March 1948 Seconded from the Royal Navy. Killed in an air crash.[12]
Commodore Ajitendu Chakraverti March 1948 November 1948 Officiating. First Indian officer to be promoted to Commodore. Later Flag Officer Commanding Indian Fleet.[13]
2 Commodore Harold Drew CBE, DSC November 1948 February 1949 Seconded from the Royal Navy.[14]
Deputy Commander-in-Chief
2 Commodore Harold Drew CBE, DSC February 1949 February 1952 Seconded from the Royal Navy.[14][15]
3 Commodore Godfrey French February 1952 March 1954 Seconded from the Royal Navy.[16][17]
4 Commodore Ram Dass Katari March 1954 March 1955 Later took over as the first Indian Chief of the Naval Staff.[18]
Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
4 Commodore Ram Dass Katari April 1955 March 1956 Later took over as the first Indian Chief of the Naval Staff.[19]
5 Commodore Ajitendu Chakraverti March 1956 April 1958 First Indian officer to be promoted to Commodore. Later Flag Officer Commanding Indian Fleet.[20]
6 Rear Admiral Adhar Kumar Chatterji April 1958[n 1] May 1962 Later Chief of the Naval Staff.[21]
7 Rear Admiral Sardarilal Mathradas Nanda AVSM May 1962 December 1964 Later Chief of the Naval Staff.[22]
8 Rear Admiral Sourendra Nath Kohli December 1964 May 1967 Later Chief of the Naval Staff.[5]

1973-present
S.No. Name Assumed office Left office Notes
1 Rear Admiral Swaraj Parkash MVC, AVSM (first tenure) March 1973 November 1973 Later Director General of the Indian Coast Guard.[23]
2 Rear Admiral N. P. Datta AVSM (first tenure) November 1973 April 1974 [23][24]
3 Rear Admiral Swaraj Parkash MVC, AVSM (second tenure) April 1974 March 1976 [25]
4 Vice Admiral N. P. Datta AVSM (second tenure) March 1976 November 1977 [26][27]
5 Rear Admiral M. R. Schunker AVSM November 1977 February 1978 [28]
6 Rear Admiral D. S. Paintal AVSM February 1978 October 1980 [29]
7 Rear Admiral Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani AVSM 4 October 1980 20 February 1982 Later Chief of the Naval Staff.[30]
8 Vice Admiral Subimal Mookerjee AVSM 20 February 1982 27 June 1983 [31]
9 Vice Admiral Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani AVSM, NM 27 June 1983 28 November 1984 [32]
10 Vice Admiral S. Jain PVSM, AVSM 2 February 1985 20 February 1986 [33][34]
11 Vice Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas AVSM, VrC, VSM 20 February 1986 28 November 1987 Later Chief of the Naval Staff.[35]
12 Vice Admiral R. P. Sawhney 28 November 1987 25 February 1989 [36][37]
13 Vice Admiral KASZ Raju AVSM, NM 10 March 1989 28 December 1990 Later Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command.[38][39]
14 Vice Admiral B. Guha 28 December 1990 10 November 1992 [39][40]
15 Vice Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat AVSM 10 November 1992 31 December 1994 Later Chief of the Naval Staff.[40][41]
16 Vice Admiral Avnish Rai Tandon AVSM 1 January 1995 24 April 1996 [42]
17 Vice Admiral Madhvendra Singh AVSM 24 April 1996 30 October 1996 Later Chief of the Naval Staff.[43][44]
18 Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha 30 October 1996 28 February 1998 [44][45]
19 Vice Admiral Madanjit Singh March 1998 March 1999 [46]
20 Vice Admiral Harinder Singh March 1999 November 2000 [47]
21 Vice Admiral Raman Puri 24 November 2000 January 2002 [48][49]
22 Vice Admiral S. V. Gopalachari January 2002 August 2004 [50]
23 Vice Admiral Sureesh Mehta AVSM August 2004 27 September 2005 Later Chief of the Naval Staff.[51]
24 Vice Admiral Jagjit Singh Bedi UYSM, AVSM, VSM 27 September 2005 24 July 2006 Later Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command.[52]
25 Vice Admiral Raman P. Suthan AVSM, VSM 24 July 2006 26 April 2007 [53][54][55]
26 Vice Admiral Anup Singh 26 April 2007 30 November 2009 Later Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command[53]
27 Vice Admiral Robin K. Dhowan AVSM, YSM 30 November 2009 16 September 2011 Later Chief of the Naval Staff.[56]
28 Vice Admiral Satish Soni AVSM, NM 16 September 2011 29 May 2012 Later Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command.[57]
29 Vice Admiral Pradeep Kumar Chatterjee AVSM, NM 29 May 2012 31 May 2014 Later Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command.[58][59]
30 Vice Admiral Rama Kant Pattanaik AVSM, YSM 31 May 2014 31 October 2015 [58]
31 Vice Admiral Karambir Singh AVSM 31 October 2015 6 June 2016 Later Chief of the Naval Staff.[60]
32 Vice Admiral G. Ashok Kumar AVSM, VSM 6 June 2016 30 January 2019 Later Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.[61]
33 Vice Admiral Murlidhar Sadashiv Pawar AVSM, VSM 3 January 2019 31 May 2021 [62]
34 Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh AVSM, NM 1 June 2021 31 March 2022 [63]
35 Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru AVSM, NM 1 April 2022 30 September 2023 [64]
36 Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti AVSM, VSM 1 October 2023 Incumbent [65]

See also

Notes
  1. Post upgraded to Rear Admiral 5 March 1959.[4]

References
  1. "Principal Staff Officers | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
  2. "NHQ REORGANISATION" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 3 February 1949.
  3. Nanda, S M (October 2015). The man who bombed Karachi : a memoir. HarperCollins Publishers India. p. 113. ISBN 978-8172235628.
  4. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 23 May 1959. p. 124.
  5. "Admiral Kohli First Naval Vice-Chief" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 11 May 1967. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  6. "Naval Headquarters Reorganised" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 9 March 1973. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  7. [978-8170622666 Transition to eminence : the Indian Navy 1976-1990]. Published by Principal Director of Administration, Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) in association with Lancer Publishers. 2005. ISBN 81-7062-266-2. {{cite book}}: Check |url= value (help)
  8. "Staff Branch-II | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
  9. "President's Secretariat" (PDF). Office of the President of India. Rajya Sabha. 1979-08-26. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  10. (PDF). 20 November 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151120092637/http://7cpc.india.gov.in/pdf/sevencpcreport.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2015. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. DelhiJune 29, India Today Web Desk New; June 29, India Today Web Desk New; Ist, India Today Web Desk New. "7th Pay Commission cleared: What is the Pay Commission? How does it affect salaries?". India Today.
  12. "DEATH OF COMMODORE NOTT" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 3 April 1948.
  13. "PIB (DEFENCE WING)" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 8 May 1948.
  14. "PIB (DEFENCE WING)" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 6 November 1948.
  15. "NEW CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE NAVY" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 7 January 1952.
  16. "NEW CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE NAVY" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 7 January 1952.
  17. "Press Information Bureau (Defence Wing)" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 22 March 1954. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  18. "TWO SENIOR NAVAL OFFICERS PROMOTED COMMODORES" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 5 December 1953.
  19. "TWO SENIOR NAVAL OFFICERS PROMOTED COMMODORES" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 5 December 1953.
  20. "TWO SENIOR NAVAL OFFICERS PROMOTED COMMODORES" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 24 December 1955.
  21. "NEW DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 14 May 1962.
  22. "NEW DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 14 May 1962.
  23. "Naval Appointments" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 2 November 1973. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  24. "Vice Admiral Datta to Head Mazagaon Dock Limited" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 2 November 1977. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  25. "REAR ADMIRAL DATTA TO BE FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING WESTERN FLEET" (PDF). archive.pib.gov.in. 20 April 1974.
  26. "Rear Admiral Datta Promoted" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 8 September 1977. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  27. "Vice Admiral Datta to Head Mazagaon Dock Limited" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 2 November 1977. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  28. "ADMIRAL SCHUNKER TO HEAD EASTERN NAVAL COMMAND" (PDF). archive.pib.gov.in. 2 February 1978.
  29. "Senior Naval Appointments" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 13 February 1978. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  30. "New Deputy Chief for the Navy" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 4 October 1980. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  31. "Admiral Mookerjee Appointed Deputy Chief of Naval Staff" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 20 February 1982. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  32. "Admiral Hiranandani New Deputy Chief" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 26 June 1983. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  33. "Vice Admiral Jain Appointed New Deputy Chief of Naval Staff" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 2 February 1985. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  34. "Vice Admiral Jain Takes Over Western Naval Command" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 26 February 1986. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  35. "New Deputy Chief at Naval Headquarters" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 20 February 1986. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  36. "New Vice Chief of Navy, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command and Deputy Chief of Navy Announced" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 28 November 1987. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
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  38. "Vice-Admiral Raju Takes Over as Deputy Chief of Navy" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 10 March 1989. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  39. "New Vice Chief, Flag Officer Commanders-in-Chief and Deputy Chief for Indian Navy" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 28 December 1990. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  40. "New Deputy Chief of Naval Staff" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 10 November 1992. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  41. "Vice-Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat Takes Over as FOC-in-C, West" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 31 December 1994. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  42. "Top Appointments in the Indian Navy" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 5 January 1995. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  43. "New Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 24 April 1996. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  44. "New Naval Appointments Announced" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 30 October 1996. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  45. "Top Naval Appointments Announced By the Government" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 26 February 1998. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  46. "Mandanjit Singh appointed flag office commander". Zee News. 21 May 2002.
  47. "Admiral Bhagwat Sacked". Tribune (Chandigarh). 30 December 1998.
  48. "Appointments: Deputy Chief of Naval Staff" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 24 November 2000. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  49. "Vice Admiral Raman Puri appointed C-in-C, Eastern Naval command". Zee News. 12 January 2002.
  50. "Navy shifts officer on health grounds". Times of India. 30 July 2004.
  51. "Vice Admiral Sureesh Mehta, takes over as Foc-In-C East". Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 1 October 2005.
  52. "New Deputy Chief for the Navy". Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 27 September 2005.
  53. "Vice Admiral Anup Singh to take over as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff". Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 23 April 2007.
  54. "Senior Naval Appointments Announced". Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 19 March 2008.
  55. "Vice Admiral Raman P Suthan, AVSM VSM appointed Foc-in-C East". Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 19 April 2007.
  56. "Vice Admiral RK Dhowan takes charge as new Deputy Chief of Naval Staff". Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 30 November 2009.
  57. "Appointments". Sainik Samachar - Archive. 16 September 2011.
  58. "Vice Admiral RK Pattanaik is new DCNS". Indian Navy. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  59. "Vice Admiral Pradeep K Chatterjee takes over as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff - First ever Submariner Deputy Chief of Naval Staff". Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 29 May 2012.
  60. "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, AVSM,assumed charge as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff". Indian Navy. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  61. "Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, AVSM, VSM assumes charge as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff". Indian Navy. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  62. "Vice Admiral MS Pawar, AVSM, VSM Assumes Charge as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS)". Indian Navy. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  63. "Big Reshuffle in Naval Headquarters". Bharat Shakti. 2021-05-29.
  64. "Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru assumes charge as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff". ThePrint. 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  65. "VICE ADMIRAL TARUN SOBTI, AVSM, VSM ASSUMED CHARGE AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
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