On 01 Nov 2025, Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh, AVSM, NM, assumed charge as the Chief of Personnel of the Indian Navy. Commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 1990, he is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (Khadakwasla). He is a specialist in Gunnery and Missiles and has served onboard Indian Naval Ships Ranjit and Prahar. He was part of the commissioning crew of INS Brahmaputra as the Gunnery Officer, INS Shivalik as the Executive Officer, and INS Kochi as the Commanding Officer. He has also commanded INS Vidyut & INS Khukri.
Past positions include Instructor at INS Dronacharya, Deputy Commandant of Naval War College, Assistant Chief of Personnel (HRD), and in the Directorate of Naval Intelligence in NHQ and the Indian Naval Work-up Team. He was the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet in Nov 2022, where the fleet focused on ‘Ordnance on Target'. In Jan 2024, he was appointed as Controller Personnel Services. Prior to his current role, he was Commandant, National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla.
Awards include the Admiral Katari Trophy, the Chief of Naval Staff 'Unit Citation' in Dec 2011 for INS Khukri, the FOC-in-C Commendation (2002), the Nausena Medal (2020), and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2024).
Academically, he holds an MSc and MPhil (Defence & Strategic Studies). Additional education includes Staff Course at DSSC Wellington, Higher Command at Naval War College, NDC courses in India, Maritime Intelligence Course at National Intelligence University (NIU), Washington, and the United Nations Staff Officers Course (UNSOC) at Stockholm, Sweden.
This release was posted on 01 NOV 2025 at 12:19 PM by PIB Delhi with Release ID: 2185078. The visitor counter is at 508.
Key Entities Referenced
Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh: Assumed charge as the Chief of Personnel of the Indian Navy
Chief of Personnel of the Indian Navy: Position assumed by Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh
Ministry of Defence: Parent ministry releasing the information.
Indian Navy: Armed force where Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh is taking charge
Ministry of Defence
VICE ADMIRAL GURCHARAN SINGH, AVSM,
NM ASSUMES CHARGE AS THE CHIEF OF
PERSONNEL OF THE INDIAN NAVY
Posted On: 01 NOV 2025 12:19PM by PIB Delhi
Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh, AVSM, NM assumed charge as the Chief of Personnel of the Indian
Navy, on 01 Nov 2025.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (Khadakwasla), he was commissioned into the Indian
Navy on 01 Jul 1990.
The Flag Officer has held several appointments, both afloat and ashore. As a specialist in Gunnery
and Missiles, he has served onboard Indian Naval Ships Ranjit and Prahar. He has the distinction of
being part of the commissioning crew of three indigenously constructed warships, viz, INS
Brahmaputra as the Gunnery Officer, INS Shivalik as the Executive Officer, and INS Kochi as the
Commanding Officer. He has also commanded INS Vidyut & INS Khukri.
He has been an instructor at INS Dronacharya (Gunnery School) and the Deputy Commandant of
Naval War College, Goa. His staff tenures include Assistant Chief of Personnel (HRD) and in the
Directorate of Naval Intelligence in NHQ and also the Indian Naval Work-up Team.
He took over as the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet in Nov 2022. During this tenure, the fleet
maintained high tempo of operational preparedness with a focus on the mission of ‘Ordnance on
Target’. On elevation to the rank of Vice Admiral in Jan 2024, the Flag Officer was appointed as
Controller Personnel Services wherein various initiatives were undertaken to improve working
conditions of personnel and naval community. Prior assuming charge as Chief of Personnel, the Flag
Officer was the Commandant, National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla.
He was awarded the Admiral Katari Trophy for standing ‘First in Overall Order of Merit’ of his batch
during ab initio training. Under his command, INS Khukri was awarded the Chief of Naval Staff
‘Unit Citation’ in Dec 2011 for overall operational effectiveness and successful conduct of anti-piracy
operations. He has also been awarded the FOC-in-C Commendation (2002), the Nausena Medal
(2020), and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2024).
His academic qualifications include an MSc and MPhil (Defence & Strategic Studies). In addition to
the Staff Course at DSSC Wellington, Higher Command at Naval War College, and NDC courses in
India, he has attended the Maritime Intelligence Course at National Intelligence University (NIU),
Washington, and the United Nations Staff Officers Course (UNSOC) at Stockholm, Sweden.***
VM/SKY
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