Admiral
Karambir Singh
PVSM AVSM ADC
Official portrait, 2019
24th Chief of the Naval Staff
In office
31 May 2019 – 30 November 2021[1]
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[2]
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
Rank 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)[3] of the Navy, he replaced Admiral Sunil Lanba as the CNS after his retirement on 31 May 2019.[4][5] 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.[2] He attended the Barnes School in Deolali, before joining the 56th course of the National Defence Academy, where he was in the Hunter Squadron.[6] He is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai.[7]

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.[4]

Singh has commanded the Jija Bai-class patrol vessel of the Indian Coast Guard ICGS Chand Bibi and the lead ship of her-class of corvettes INS Vijaydurg (K71) and the Rajput-class guided missile destroyer INS Rana (D52). He was in command of the Rana during the Review of the Fleet by the President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam in 2005. During the review, Rana served as the flag ship of the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet Rear Admiral Sanjeev Bhasin. He subsequently commanded the lead ship of her-class of guided missile destroyers INS Delhi (D61).

In his staff appointments, he served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet and served at Naval Headquarters as the Joint Director Naval Air Staff. He also served as the 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]

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).[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 the Naval Staff, following which he was appointed as Vice Chief of Naval Staff.[8]

He assumed office of the Flag Officer Commanding-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 superannuated on 30 November 2021, and was succeeded as Chief of Naval Staff by Vice Admiral R. Hari Kumar.[1]

Bi-lateral visits as CNS

Country Date Purpose Reference
 Australia 2–6 September 2019 Bilateral discussions and pacific strategic dialogue. [12]
 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. [13]
 Sri Lanka 19–22 December 2019 To enhance the bilateral maritime relations in the Indian Ocean Region. [14]

Awards 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

He was conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star of Japan on 29 April 2023[15] as a part of the 2023 Spring Conferment of Decorations. He was conferred the order in recognition of his contributions to strengthening the relationship between Japan and India on national defense.

References

  1. 1 2 "Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar to be the next Chief of the Naval Staff". PIB. 9 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Karambir Singh to be Next Chief of Naval Staff". The Economic Times. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  3. ↑ "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, AVSM, assumed charge as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
  4. 1 2 PIB. "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh Assumed Charge as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff". Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  5. ↑ "Admiral Karambir Singh Sworn In As Chief Of Naval Staff". Outlook. 31 May 2019.
  6. ↑ news18.com (23 March 2019). "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh to be Next Chief of Naval Staff". Retrieved 23 March 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. 1 2 3 4 PIB. "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh takes over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ENC". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  8. 1 2 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". The Week. 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.
  15. ↑ "2023 Spring Conferment of Decorations (English)". www.in.emb-japan.go.jp. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
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