How a former Navy Chief turned an archipelago into a hub for global records

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi, the first Indian Navy Chief to resign over safety standards, reinvented his career as the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. From opening restricted waters for energy exploration to leading record-breaking underwater stunts, he has transformed the remote territory into a strategic national asset.

Born in 1954 in Almora, Uttarakhand, Devendra Kumar Joshi broke a seven-generation family tradition by joining the Indian Navy in 1974. A specialist in anti-submarine warfare, he rose to become the 21st Chief of Naval Staff in 2012. His tenure ended abruptly in February 2014 when he resigned following a fire on the INS Sindhuratna. This act of accountability, rare for a service chief, was widely viewed by his peers as a testament to the exacting standards he applied to his command.

Simultaneously serving as Vice-Chairman of the Islands Development Agency, he focused on integrating the archipelago into India’s broader economic framework. His administration oversaw major infrastructure upgrades, including the 2023 inauguration of a new terminal at Veer Savarkar International Airport, designed to handle 50 lakh passengers annually. He also pushed for the development of the Galathea Bay Port, which was notified as India’s 13th major port in 2024.

Joshi’s influence extended to the seabed. He successfully lobbied to open vast, previously restricted 'No-Go' maritime zones for hydrocarbon exploration. This policy shift yielded immediate results, with natural gas and crude condensate discoveries reported by Oil India Limited and ONGC between 2025 and 2026. Beyond industry, he sought to elevate the islands' global profile through unconventional means, personally leading two successful Guinness World Record attempts in 2026 for the largest underwater national flag and the tallest human stack underwater.

His commitment to his home state of Uttarakhand remains a parallel focus. In 2020, he became a patron of the Uttarakhand War Memorial and donated all his future gallantry award annuities to the trust. By bridging his military background with regional development and public-facing initiatives, Joshi has redefined the role of a territorial administrator in India.

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