1 June 2019: Admiral Karambir Singh has taken charge as India's 24th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). He is the first helicopter pilot to become Chief of Naval Staff.
With a career spanning over 39 years, Admiral Singh has held various import positions in the Indian Navy. He has commanded Indian Coast Guard Ship Chandbibi, Missile Corvette INS Vijaydurg, as well as two Guided Missile Destroyers, INS Rana and INS Delhi.
He was also the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet. Ashore, he has 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. As he was promoted to flag rank, the Admiral was appointed as the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command. As Vice Admiral, he was also the Director General of Project Seabird, managing infrastructural development of the Indian Navy's modern base at Karwar.
Earlier, the post of Chief of the Naval Staff was held by Admiral Sunil Lanba.
Currently, the Indian Navy has around 132 ships, 220 aircraft and 15 submarines.