Chief of the Naval Staff (India)

The Chief of the Naval Staff is the commander and typically the highest-ranking officer in the Indian Navy. The position is abbreviated CNS in Indian Navy cables and communication. The rank associated with the position is usually that of Admiral.

The current Chief of the Naval Staff is Admiral D K Joshi, who took office on 31 August 2012. replaced Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma on 31 August 2012.

Office of the Chief of the Naval Staff
The office the Chief of the Naval Staff was created by The Commanders-In-Chief (Change in Designation) Act of the Indian Parliament in 1955, replacing the erstwhile office of the Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy. The office is based at South Block in Raisina Hill, New Delhi.

Appointments to the office are made by the President of India. The Chief of the Naval Staff generally reaches superannuation upon serving three years or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier.

Appointees
The following table chronicles the appointees to the office of the Chief of the Naval Staff or its preceding positions since the independence of India.