**Policy Summary: Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair Assumes Charge as Controller Personnel Services**
On July 31, 2025, Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair, AVSM, NM, assumed the role of Controller Personnel Services (CPS) within the Ministry of Defence. Upon assuming his duties, he paid respects at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
VAdm Nair was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1991, and is a Surface Warfare Officer specializing in Communications and Electronic Warfare. His career spans over three decades, encompassing various command, operational, and staff appointments. Key specialist tenures include service onboard INS Krishna, Kora, and Mysore, as well as roles as Fleet Electronic Warfare Officer and Fleet Communications Officer of the Western Fleet. He received the Chief of the Naval Staff commendation for his role in the non-combatant evacuation of Indian nationals from Beirut in 2006. He also served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Eastern Fleet (2018-2019).
VAdm Nair's command experience includes Missile Corvette INS Kirch, Guided Missile Destroyer INS Chennai, and Aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya. Ashore, he served as Directing Staff at the Naval War College Goa, Officer-in-Charge Signal School, and Cmde Pers at the Directorate of Personnel, Naval Headquarters. He was a member of the Indian Naval Strategic and Operational Council (INSOC) for over three years.
He is an alumnus of DSSC, Wellington, and the US Naval War College, Newport, USA, where he received the Robert E. Bateman's International award, Vice Admiral James H. Doyle, Military Operations and International Law Prize and the International Leadership Prize. He also holds an M.Phil. in Defence and Strategic Studies from Mumbai University.
VAdm Nair was awarded the Nao Sena Medal for Devotion to Duty on January 26, 2000, and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on January 26, 2025. As Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff Policy and Plans at the Naval Headquarters, he oversaw the promulgation of the Maritime Capability Perspective Plan (MCPP) 2022-37 and the Maritime Infrastructure Perspective Plan (MIPP) 2022-37. He commanded the Western Fleet in 2023-24, spearheading Operation Sankalp. Prior to his current appointment, he served as the Commandant, Indian Naval Academy.
Release ID: 2151234
Key Entities Referenced
CR Praveen Nair: Vice Admiral who assumed charge as Controller Personnel Services (CPS)
Ministry of Defence: The Indian government ministry responsible for defence.
Controller Personnel Services: The position assumed by Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair.
Indian Navy: The naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces.
National War Memorial, New Delhi: A war memorial located in New Delhi, Delhi.
INS Vikramaditya: An aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy commanded by CR Praveen Nair.
Naval War College Goa: A military education institution located in Goa, India.
Western Fleet: A fleet of the Indian Navy, also known as the Sword Arm of the Indian Navy, commanded in 2023-24 by CR Praveen Nair.
Ministry of Defence
VICE ADMIRAL CR PRAVEEN NAIR, AVSM, NM,
ASSUMES CHARGE AS CONTROLLER
PERSONNEL SERVICES
Posted On: 01 AUG 2025 2:26PM by PIB Delhi
Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair, AVSM, NM assumed charge as the Controller Personnel Services (CPS) on
31 July 2025. On assuming charge, the Flag Officer paid solemn homage at the National War Memorial, New
Delhi.
VAdm CR Praveen Nair was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 01 July 1991. A Surface Warfare
Officer, he is a specialist in Communications and Electronic Warfare. He has held a wide range of
command, operational and staff appointments over his distinguished naval career spanning more than three
decades. The Flag officer's specialist tenures were onboard INS Krishna, Kora and Mysore. He served as
Fleet Electronic Warfare Officer and thereafter as the Fleet Communications Officer of the Western Fleet.
As Fleet Communication Officer, he was awarded the Chief of the Naval Staff commendation for his role in
the non-combatant evacuation of Indian nationals from Beirut during the Israel-Lebanon war in July 2006.
He was also the Fleet Operations Officer of the Eastern Fleet in 2018-2019.
The Flag Officer has commanded Missile Corvette INS Kirch, Guided Missile Destroyer INS Chennai and
Aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya. His appointments ashore include Directing Staff at the prestigious Naval
War College Goa, Officer-in-Charge Signal School, and Cmde (Pers) at Directorate of Personnel, Naval
Headquarters. He has also been a member of the Indian Naval Strategic and Operational Council
(INSOC) - Indian Navy's premier think tank for over three years.
He is an alumnus of DSSC, Wellington and the US Naval War College, Newport, USA. While undergoing the
Naval Command Course at the US Naval War College, the Flag Officer was awarded the prestigious Robert
E. Bateman's International award, Vice Admiral James H. Doyle, Military Operations and
International Law Prize and the International Leadership Prize. The Flag Officer also holds an M.Phil. in
Defence and Strategic Studies from Mumbai University. He was conferred with Nao Sena Medal for Devotion
to Duty on 26 Jan 2000 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 Jan 25.
On elevation to Flag rank, he was appointed as the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at the
Naval Headquarters. The Maritime Capability Perspective Plan - MCPP 2022-37 and Maritime
Infrastructure Perspective Plan - MIPP 2022-37 were promulgated under his watch as ACNS (P&P). The
Flag Officer commanded the Western Fleet - the Sword Arm of the Indian Navy in 2023-24, where he
spearheaded Operation Sankalp. Prior taking over as CPS on 31 July 2025, he was the Commandant, Indian
Naval Academy.****
VM/SKS
(Release ID: 2151234)