The Chief of the Naval Staff is the highest operational authority in India's Navy.
In short: Since 1955, the Chief of the Naval Staff has served as the professional head of the Indian Navy. This four-star admiral acts as a critical advisor to the nation's civilian leadership, overseeing everything from combat readiness and maritime sovereignty to the administration of the entire naval organization.
The office of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) has evolved significantly since the partition of the subcontinent. Originally known as the Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy, the title was modified in 1948 to align with other branches of the armed forces. Following India's transition to a republic in 1950, the force became the Indian Navy, and the position was eventually simplified to its current designation by the Commanders-In-Chief (Change in Designation) Act, 1955. Until 1958, the role was held by officers seconded from the Royal Navy, until Vice Admiral Ram Dass Katari became the first Indian-origin chief.
The CNS is a four-star admiral, a rank-specification established in March 1968 when Vice Admiral Adhar Kumar Chatterji was promoted. The appointee is selected by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet from the senior-most vice admirals, including those commanding combatant or integrated military commands. While seniority was the traditional path for appointment between 1950 and 1990, this custom has been bypassed on three occasions: in 1990, 2014, and 2016, when officers were appointed despite having a senior officer in the ranks.
Tenure for the CNS is governed by the Regulations for the Navy, 1991, which mandates retirement after three years in the position or at age 62, whichever occurs first. The office holds significant authority, including the power to convene courts-martial and review judicial sentencing for professional misconduct. While the President of India retains the power to dismiss a CNS, this authority has been exercised only once in history: in December 1998, when Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat was dismissed from service. This remains the only instance of a military chief in the Indian Armed Forces being relieved of duty in this manner.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Chief of the Naval Staff (India)
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