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

Admiral Karambir Singh PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Admiral Karambir Singh as Chief of the Naval Staff.
Nickname(s)	The Grey Eagle
Born	(1959-11-03) 3 November 1959[1] Jalandhar, Punjab, India
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Navy
Years of service	June 1980 - Present
Rank	Admiral
Service number	02151-N
Commands held	Chief of Naval Staff Eastern Naval Command INS Delhi INS Rana INS Vijaydurg ICGS Chand Bibi
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishist Seva Medal

Early life and education

Born in a 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]

Bi-lateral visits as CNS

Country	Date	Purpose	Reference
Australia	02-06 September 2019	Bi-lateral discussions, For strategic dialogue	[12]
New Zealand
Bangladesh	21 to 24 September 2019	Classified	[13]
Sri Lanka	19 to 22 December 2019	To enhance the bilateral maritime relations.	[14]

Honours and decorations

Param Vishist Seva Medal	Ati Vishist Seva Medal	Samanya Seva Medal	Operation Vijay Medal
Operation Parakram Medal	Sainya Seva Medal	50th Anniversary of Independence Medal	30 Years Long Service Medal
	20 Years Long Service Medal	9 Years Long Service Medal

References

1. "Karambir Singh to be Next Chief of Naval Staff". Retrieved 23 March 2019.
2. "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, AVSM, assumed charge as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
3. PIB. "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh Assumed Charge as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff". Retrieved 23 March 2019.
4. "Admiral Karambir Singh Sworn In As Chief Of Naval Staff". Outlook. 31 May 2019.
5. @nitingokhale (22 March 2019). "KB Singh" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 March 2019 – via Twitter.
6. news18.com. "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh to be Next Chief of Naval Staff". Retrieved 23 March 2019.
7. PIB. "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh takes over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ENC". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
8. Indian Navy (31 May 2016). "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, AVSM assumes charge as Vice Chief of Naval Staff". Indian Navy. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
9. PIB. "390 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced". www.pib.nic.in. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
10. Snehesh Alex Philip. "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh is new Navy Chief". Retrieved 23 March 2019.
11. Pradip R Sagar. "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh is new Chief of Naval Staff". Retrieved 23 March 2019.
12. "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.
13. "Visit of Admiral Karambir Singh Chief of the Naval Staff to Bangladesh (21 to 24 Sep 19)". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
14. "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