Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar assumed charge as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) in New Delhi

Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar assumed charge as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) in New Delhi

¨     Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar assumed charge as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) on 29 May 2026 in New Delhi.

¨     He paid homage at the National War Memorial and succeeded Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan.

¨     Vice Admiral Kochhar was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1988 and has over 37 years of service experience.

¨     The Vice Chief of the Naval Staff is the second-highest appointment in the Indian Navy after the Chief of the Naval Staff.

¨     The post operates from Naval Headquarters in New Delhi and is held by a senior Vice Admiral.

¨     Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar is a specialist in Gunnery and Missile Systems.

¨     His key command appointments include INS Nashak, INS Vibhuti, INS Kirpan, frigate INS Trikand, and aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

¨     He served as Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command, from 25 May 2024.

¨     He later served as Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command, from 1 October 2025 to 25 May 2026.

¨     He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022.

¨     He was conferred the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026.

¨     His education includes the National Defence Academy (Pune), Defence Services Staff College (Wellington), Naval War College (Goa), and the Royal College of Defence Studies (UK).