Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar assumes charge as 48th VC of Naval Staff

Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, PVSM, AVSM, NM, on Friday assumed charge as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS), marking a new chapter in his distinguished naval career spanning more than 37 years.On assuming office, the Flag Officer paid tribute to the nation's fallen heroes by laying a floral wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi, according to a statement issued by the Defence Ministry.

Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, PVSM, AVSM, NM assumed charge as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff #VCNS on #29May 2026.
He paid homage to the bravehearts by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial, New Delhi.

Commissioned into the #IndianNavy on 01 July 1988, the Flag… pic.twitter.com/yeedSP1Mqx

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) May 29, 2026

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Pune, Vice Admiral Kochhar was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1988. A specialist in Gunnery and Missile Systems, he has held a wide range of command, operational and staff appointments during his service.He has commanded Indian Naval Ships Nashak, Vibhuti and Kirpan, and served as the Commissioning Commanding Officer of the stealth frigate INS Trikand. He also commanded the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, during which the carrier successfully completed the integration and operationalisation of its air wing.
A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Naval War College, Goa, and the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom, Vice Admiral Kochhar has served in several key strategic and policy-oriented positions at Naval Headquarters. His staff appointments include Joint Director, Naval Plans; Director, Staff Requirements; and Principal Director, DSCT.Following his promotion to Flag Rank in 2018, he served as Assistant Controller of Carrier Projects and Assistant Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, contributing significantly to India's naval modernisation efforts.
In 2021, he assumed command of the Western Fleet, one of the Navy's premier operational formations. He later served as Commandant, National Defence Academy, where he played a vital role in enhancing training standards and infrastructure development.Vice Admiral Kochhar took over as Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command, on May 25, 2024, during a challenging security environment in the Western Maritime Theatre. He led the Command's response to both conventional and non-traditional threats along the western seaboard and oversaw high-tempo naval operations during Operation Sindoor.For his distinguished service, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2022 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) in 2026.
Prior to assuming his current appointment, Vice Admiral Kochhar served as Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command, where he played a pivotal role in strengthening operational coordination and enhancing integration and jointness among the Army, Navy and Air Force.With his extensive operational, strategic and leadership experience, Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar is expected to play a key role in advancing the Indian Navy's operational readiness, capability development and maritime security objectives as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.