Karambir Singh

Karambir Singh
Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC.jpg
Official portrait, 2019
24th Chief of the Naval Staff
In office
31 May 2019 – 30 November 2021
PresidentRam Nath Kovind
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded bySunil Lanba
Succeeded byR. Hari Kumar
33rd Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
In office
31 May 2016 – 30 October 2017
PresidentRam Nath Kovind
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded byParasurama Naidu Murugesan
Succeeded byAjit Kumar P
Personal details
Born (1959-11-03) 3 November 1959 (age 63)
Jalandhar, Punjab, India
Alma materNational Defence Academy (BTech)
Defence Services Staff College (MSc)
Awards
Nickname"KB"
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Navy
Years of serviceJune 1980 - November 2021
RankIN Admiral Shoulder curl.png 14-Indian Navy-ADM.svg Admiral
Commands
Service number02151-N

Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC (born 3 November 1959), is a former flag officer of Indian Navy, who served as the 24th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). The "Grey Eagle" (senior-most serving naval aviator) of the Navy, he replaced Admiral Sunil Lanba as the CNS after his retirement on 31 May 2019. Prior to his ascension, Admiral Singh served as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.

Early life and education

Born on 3 November 1959 in Jalandhar, Punjab, Admiral Singh is a second generation military officer. He attended the Barnes School in Deolali, before joining the 56th course of the National Defence Academy, where he was in the Hunter Squadron. He is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai.

Career

CDS General Bipin Rawat with COAS General Manoj Mukund Naravane, CNS Admiral Karambir Singh and CAS Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria after the ceremonial Guard of Honour, in New Delhi on January 1, 2020
Admiral Sunil Lanba the Chief of the Naval Staff being received by Vice Adm Karambir Singh FOC-in-Chief ENC
Indian Navy Vice Admiral Karambir Singh visits INS Sahyadri off the coast of Hawaii

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.

Singh 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).

Flag rank

On promotion to flag rank, Singh 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). 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 the Naval Staff, following which he was appointed as Vice Chief of Naval Staff.

He assumed office of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command on 31 October 2017, succeeding Vice Admiral Harish Bisht. In a career spanning close to 39 years, he has been awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal and the Ati Vishist Seva Medal.

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.

He superannuated on 30 November 2021, and was succeeded as Chief of Naval Staff by Vice Admiral R. Hari Kumar.

Bi-lateral visits as CNS

Country Date Purpose Reference
 Australia 2–6 September 2019 Bilateral discussions and pacific strategic dialogue.
 New Zealand
 Bangladesh 21–24 September 2019 Consolidate and enhance the bilateral maritime relations between India and Bangladesh, with a focus on the Bay of Bengal.
 Sri Lanka 19–22 December 2019 To enhance the bilateral maritime relations in the Indian Ocean Region.

Awards and decorations

IND Samanya Seva medal.svg
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

This page was last updated at 2023-02-25 10:17 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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