Karambir Singh
Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, is the 24th and current Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy. The "Grey Eagle" (senior-most serving naval aviator)[2] of the Navy, he replaced Admiral Sunil Lanba as the CNS after Admiral Lanba's retirement on 31 May 2019.[3][4] Prior to his ascension, Admiral Singh served as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command.
Karambir Singh | |
|---|---|
 Admiral Karambir Singh as Chief of the Naval Staff. | |
| 24th Chief of the Naval Staff | |
| Assumed office 31 May 2019 | |
| President | Ram Nath Kovind |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Sunil Lanba |
| 33rd Vice Chief of the Naval Staff | |
| In office 31 May 2016 – 30 October 2017 | |
| President | Ram Nath Kovind |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Parasurama Naidu Murugesan |
| Succeeded by | Ajit Kumar P |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 November 1959[1] Jalandhar, Punjab, India |
| Alma mater | National Defence Academy (BTech) Defence Services Staff College (MSc) |
| Awards | |
| Nickname(s) | "KB" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Branch/service |  Indian Navy |
| Years of service | June 1980 - Present |
| Rank |   Admiral |
| Commands |
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Early life and education
Born in a Jat Sikh family to an IAF officer in Jalandhar, Punjab, Admiral Singh is a second generation military officer.[1] He attended the Barnes School in Deolali, before joining the 56th course of the National Defence Academy, where he was in the Hunter Squadron.[5][6] He is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai.[7]
Career
He was commissioned into the Indian Navy in July 1980 and earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1982. He has extensive experience with the HAL Chetak, Kamov Ka-25 and Kamov Ka-28 helicopters.[3]
The Admiral has commanded the Coast Guard ship ICGS Chand Bibi, the corvette INS Vijaydurg, and the guided missile destroyers INS Rana and INS Delhi. He also served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet. Ashore, he served at Naval Headquarters as the Joint Director Naval Air Staff, and as Captain Air and Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Air Station at Mumbai. He was also a member of the Aircrew Instrument Rating and Categorisation Board (AIRCATS).[8][7]
On promotion to flag rank, the Admiral was appointed as the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command. His other important flag appointments include Chief of Staff of the Tri-Services Unified Command at Andaman & Nicobar Islands and as the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area (FOMAG).[7] As the Director General of Project Seabird, he stewarded the development of the Navy's new base at Karwar. He went on serve as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, following which he was appointed as Vice Chief of Naval Staff.[8]
He assumed office of the Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command on 31 October 2017, succeeding Vice Admiral Harish Bisht.[7] In a career spanning close to 39 years, he has been awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal and the Ati Vishist Seva Medal.[9]
On 23 March 2019, the Government of India named him Chief of Naval Staff, superseding Vice Admiral Bimal Verma. He is the first helicopter pilot to have served as Chief of Staff of the Indian Navy.[10][11]
He will superannuate on 30 November 2021.[12]
Bi-lateral visits as CNS
| Country | Date | Purpose | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
 Australia
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2–6 September 2019 | Bilateral discussions and pacific strategic dialogue. | [13] |
 New Zealand
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 Bangladesh
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21–24 September 2019 | Consolidate and enhance the bilateral maritime relations between India and Bangladesh, with a focus on the Bay of Bengal. | [14] |
 Sri Lanka
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19–22 December 2019 | To enhance the bilateral maritime relations in the Indian Ocean Region. | [15] |
Awards and decorations
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Karambir Singh to be Next Chief of Naval Staff". The Economic Times. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ↑ "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, AVSM, assumed charge as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 PIB. "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh Assumed Charge as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff". Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ↑ "Admiral Karambir Singh Sworn In As Chief Of Naval Staff". Outlook. 31 May 2019.
- ↑ @nitingokhale (22 March 2019). "KB Singh" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 March 2019 – via Twitter.
- ↑ news18.com (23 March 2019). "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh to be Next Chief of Naval Staff". Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 PIB. "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh takes over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ENC". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Indian Navy (31 May 2016). "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, AVSM assumes charge as Vice Chief of Naval Staff". Indian Navy. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ↑ PIB. "390 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced". www.pib.nic.in. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
- ↑ Snehesh Alex Philip. "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh is new Navy Chief". Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ↑ Pradip R Sagar. "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh is new Chief of Naval Staff". Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ↑ "Race hots up for the post of Air Force, Navy chief. Here are the main contenders". The Week. 6 August 2021.
- ↑ "Visit of the Chief of the Naval Staff to Australia and New Zealand 02 to 06 September 2019". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
- ↑ "Visit of Admiral Karambir Singh Chief of the Naval Staff to Bangladesh (21 to 24 Sep 19)". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
- ↑ "Visit of Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff to Sri Lanka (19 to 22 Dec 19)". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sunil Lanba |
Chief of Naval Staff 31 May 2019 - Present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Harish Bisht |
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command 31 October 2017 – 30 May 2019 |
Succeeded by Atul Kumar Jain |
| Preceded by Parasurama Naidu Murugesan |
Vice Chief of Naval Staff 31 May 2016 – 30 October 2017 |
Succeeded by Ajit Kumar |
| Preceded by Rama Kant Pattanaik |
Deputy Chief of Naval Staff 2015-2016 |
Succeeded by G. Ashok Kumar |