View source for Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox official post
| post           = Commander-in-Chief, <br/> Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN)
| flag           = 
| flagborder     = 
| flagsize       = 
| insignia       = 
| insigniaborder = 
| insigniasize   = 
| image          = File:Gen_Ajai_Singh.jpg
| imagesize      = 250px
| incumbent      = [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]]<br/>[[Ajai Singh (general, CINCAN)|Ajai Singh]]  <br/>{{small|[[AVSM]]}}
| incumbentsince = 1 June 2021
| formation      = 2001
| first          = [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Arun Prakash]]<br/>{{small|[[AVSM]], [[VrC]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]], [[Aide-de-camp|ADC]]}}
| website        = [https://www.ids.nic.in/ancommand.php Official Website]
}}

'''Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN)''' is the head of the [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]], the first and only [[Joint warfare|Tri-service]] [[Theater (warfare)|theater command]] of the [[Indian Armed Forces]], based at [[Port Blair]] in the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], a [[Union Territory]] of [[India]].

The current CINCAN is [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Ajai Singh (general, CINCAN)|Ajai Singh]]  [[AVSM]] who took command on 1 June 2021 as the 16th CINCAN.

==History==
The [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] became a [[Union territory]] of India in 1956. The first military unit on the islands was the [[naval base]] [[INS Jarawa]] which was commissioned in 1964.<ref name=in-transition>{{cite book|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/t2t2e/Trans2Trimph/chapters/20%20repair%20refeit%20facility.htm|chapter=Chapter 20 - Maintenance, Repair And Refit Facilities|title=Transition to Triumph|author=Vice Admiral [[Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani]]|publisher=Indian Navy|access-date=2012-01-09}}</ref> The base was commanded by a Resident Naval Officer (RNO). With the establishment of subsequent garrisons in the islands, the post was upgraded to Naval Officer-in-charge Andaman & Nicobar (NOIC A&N).{{sfn|Singh|2018|p=299}} The naval establishments were under the command of the [[Eastern Naval Command]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. In October 1976, the operational control of all forces in the islands was given and the post was upgraded to Commodore, Andaman & Nicobar (COMAN). Shortly afterward, to signify jointness, all establishments came under the newly created Fortress Andaman & Nicobar. The appointment was re-designated to ''Fortress Commander, Andaman & Nicobar'' (FORTAN). In 1978, [[INS Kardip]] was commissioned as a [[Forward operating base]].

[[File:Andaman and Nicobar Command structure.png|thumb|250px|right|Structure of the Andaman and Nicobar Command]]

In March 1981, FORTAN was upgraded to a [[Two-star rank|Two star]] appointment tenanted by a [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]].<ref>{{cite web |title=h5 |url=http://www.sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2011/oct16-11/h5.htm |website=www.sainiksamachar.nic.in}}</ref> In 1987, the post was further upgraded to a [[Three-star rank|three star]] appointment. In 1998, a 'Far East Naval Command' (FENC) was proposed, to be commanded by a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Far East Naval Command.{{sfn|Singh|2018|p=300}}

With the operationalisation of the A & N Command as a unified theatre command in October 2001, [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Arun Prakash]], {{small|[[AVSM]], [[VrC]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]], [[Aide-de-camp|ADC]]}} took over as the First Commander-in-Chief of the unified command.<ref>{{cite web |title=ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR COMMAND BEING OPERATIONALISED |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/2001-AUG-OCT-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-III/PDF/DEF-2001-09-28_136.pdf}}</ref>

==Organisation==
The CINCAN is a [[Three-star rank]] officer from the three Services in rotation. The CINCAN reports directly to the [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)]] (CDS) in [[New Delhi]]. He is assisted by the Chief of Staff of the command, a [[two-star rank#Indian two-star ranks|two-star officer]] and the commanders of each component (sea, land, air) - [[one-star rank#Indian one-star ranks|one-star officers]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pib.and.nic.in/releases/anc4day.htm |title=Press Information Bureau |publisher=Pib.and.nic.in |access-date=26 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421041015/http://pib.and.nic.in/releases/anc4day.htm |archive-date=21 April 2011}}</ref>

==List of Commanders==
The following is a list of Commanders-in-Chief of the A&N command.{{sfn|Mukherjee|Mohan|2015}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|- style="background:#cccccc"
!No
!Name
!Branch
!Appointment Date
!Left Office
!References
|-
|1
|[[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Arun Prakash]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM|VrC|VSM}}}}
| rowspan="2" |{{navy|India}}
|8 October 2001
|30 December 2002
|<ref>{{cite web |title=VICE ADMIRAL ARUN PRAKASH TAKES OVER THE FIRST UNIFIED COMMAND |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/2001-AUG-OCT-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-III/PDF/DEF-2001-10-06_161.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/navy/20040601.htm|title=Arun Prakash to be new naval chief – Rediff.com India News|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=27 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227122524/http://www.rediff.com/news/report/navy/20040601.htm|archive-date=27 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2001/09/30/stories/0230000f.htm|title=Tri-service integrated command in place|access-date=27 December 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228203024/http://www.thehindu.com/2001/09/30/stories/0230000f.htm|website=[[The Hindu]]|date=2001-09-30|archive-date=28 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=1868|title=Vice Admiral Arun Prakash,PVSM,AVSM,VrC,VSM,ADC will be the new Naval Chief|website=pib.nic.in|access-date=27 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025022323/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=1868|archive-date=25 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
|2
|[[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] O. P. Bansal {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}}
|15 January 2003
|30 September 2003
|<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Air-Marshal-Asthana-to-head-Strategic-Forces-Command/articleshow/33995158.cms|title=Air Marshal Asthana to head Strategic Forces Command – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=27 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227203942/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Air-Marshal-Asthana-to-head-Strategic-Forces-Command/articleshow/33995158.cms|archive-date=27 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2003/03/02/stories/2003030203400300.htm|website=[[The Hindu]]|title=NCC camp in Port Blair|date=2003-03-02|access-date=27 December 2017}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|-
|3
|[[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] Bhupender Singh Thakur {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}}
| rowspan="2" |{{Army|India}}
|1 October 2003
|13 January 2005
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=12392|title=English Releases|access-date=27 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029174540/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=12392|archive-date=29 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/30josy.htm|title=Lt Gen B S Thakur chief of tri-service command|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=27 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625224442/http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/30josy.htm|archive-date=25 June 2017}}</ref>
|-
|4
|[[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] Aditya Singh {{small|[[AVSM]] [[Medal bar|& bar]]}}
|14 January 2005
|27 February 2006
|<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R-gDAAAAMBAJ&q=B+S+Thakur+and+commander&pg=PT16|title=Competition Science Vision|last=Darpan|first=Pratiyogita|date=March 2005 |publisher=Pratiyogita Darpan|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/lt-gen-aditya-singh-takes-over-charge-of-southern-command_278903.html|title=Lt Gen Aditya Singh takes over charge of Southern Command|date=1 March 2006|work=Zee News|access-date=27 December 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227235318/http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/lt-gen-aditya-singh-takes-over-charge-of-southern-command_278903.html|archive-date=27 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
|5
|[[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] Arun Kumar Singh {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|NM}}}}
|{{navy|India}}
|28 February 2006
|25 October 2006
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=16031|title=New Flag Appointments in the Navy|website=pib.nic.in|access-date=27 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025022220/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=16031|archive-date=25 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/vice-admiral-a-k-singh-new-eastern-naval-command-chief_331642.html|title=Vice Admiral A K Singh new Eastern Naval Command chief|date=26 October 2006|work=Zee News|access-date=27 December 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227180400/http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/vice-admiral-a-k-singh-new-eastern-naval-command-chief_331642.html|archive-date=27 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
|6
|[[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]] Packiam Paul Rajkumar {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}}
| rowspan="2" |{{air force|India}}
|2 December 2006
|31 December 2007
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/12018|title=Service Record for Air Marshal Packiam Paul Rajkumar 12018 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com|website=Bharat Rakshak|language=en-US|access-date=27 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227123110/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/12018|archive-date=27 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/air-marshal-rajkumar-to-head-tri-service-command_339396.html|title=Air Marshal Rajkumar to head Tri-Service Command|date=2 December 2006|work=Zee News|access-date=27 December 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227180419/http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/air-marshal-rajkumar-to-head-tri-service-command_339396.html|archive-date=27 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=22673|title=English Releases|access-date=27 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
|7
|[[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]] [[Sadasivan Radhakrishnan]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}}
|1 January 2008
|30 September 2008
|<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2008/01/01/air-marshal-s-radhakrishnan-takes-charge-as-cincan-1199192545.html|title=Air Marshal S Radhakrishnan takes charge as CINCAN|work=OneIndia|access-date=27 December 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227123254/https://www.oneindia.com/2008/01/01/air-marshal-s-radhakrishnan-takes-charge-as-cincan-1199192545.html|archive-date=27 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2008/09/27/air-marshal-radhakrishan-hands-over-reigns-of-anc-1222504365.html|title=Air Marshal Radhakrishan hands over reigns of ANC|work=OneIndia|access-date=27 December 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227123158/https://www.oneindia.com/2008/09/27/air-marshal-radhakrishan-hands-over-reigns-of-anc-1222504365.html|archive-date=27 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
|8
|[[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Vijay Shankar (admiral)|Vijay Shankar]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}}
| rowspan="2" |{{navy|India}}
|30 September 2008
|30 September 2009
|<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2008/08/25/vice-admiral-vijay-shankar-c-in-c-andaman-nicobar-1219673160.html|title=Vice Admiral Vijay Shankar to take over as C-in-C of Andaman and Nicobar|work=OneIndia|access-date=27 December 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227123226/https://www.oneindia.com/2008/08/25/vice-admiral-vijay-shankar-c-in-c-andaman-nicobar-1219673160.html|archive-date=27 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
|9
|[[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Devendra Kumar Joshi]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM|YSM|NM|VSM}}}}
|30 September 2009
|28 December 2010
|<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/dk-joshi-next-navy-chief/article3495205.ece|title=D.K. Joshi, next Navy chief|date=6 June 2012|work=The Hindu|access-date=27 December 2017|others=Special Correspondent, Special Correspondent|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
|-
|10
|[[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] N C  Marwah {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}}
|{{Army|India}}
|1 January 2011
|31 October 2012
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.andamanchronicle.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25:community-newspaper-hamara-nicobar-second-edition20&catid=19&Itemid=147|title=Andaman And Nicobar Command, Pursuing Perfection Through Jointness|website=www.andamanchronicle.net|language=en-gb|access-date=27 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/lt-gen-nc-marwah-relinquishes-command-of-anc_808828.html|title=Lt Gen NC Marwah relinquishes command of ANC|date=1 November 2012|work=Zee News|access-date=27 December 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227180415/http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/lt-gen-nc-marwah-relinquishes-command-of-anc_808828.html|archive-date=27 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
|11
|[[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]] Pramon Kumar Roy {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM|VM|VSM}}}}
|{{air force|India}}
|2 November 2012
|30 June 2014
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.andamanchronicle.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4921:cincan-air-marshal-pk-roy-bids-adieu&catid=37&Itemid=142|title=CINCAN Air Marshal PK Roy Bids Adieu|last=Giles|first=Denis|website=www.andamanchronicle.net|language=en-gb|access-date=27 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227123858/http://www.andamanchronicle.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4921:cincan-air-marshal-pk-roy-bids-adieu&catid=37&Itemid=142|archive-date=27 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
|12
|[[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Pradeep Kumar Chatterjee]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM|NM}}}}
| rowspan="2" |{{navy|India}}
|1 July 2014
|28 February 2016
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spsnavalforces.com/appointments/?id=2&h=Vice-Admiral-PK-Chatterjee-is-the-Commander-in-Chief-Andaman-and-Nicobar-Command|title=Vice Admiral PK Chatterjee is the Commander in Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command |website=SP's Naval Forces|access-date=27 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227123131/http://www.spsnavalforces.com/appointments/?id=2&h=Vice-Admiral-PK-Chatterjee-is-the-Commander-in-Chief-Andaman-and-Nicobar-Command|archive-date=27 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
|13
|[[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Bimal Verma]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}}
|29 February 2016
|1 December 2019
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=137013|title=Vice Admiral Bimal Verma AVSM takes over as Commander-in-Chief Andaman & Nicobar Command|website=pib.nic.in|access-date=27 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227122741/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=137013|archive-date=27 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
|14
|[[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Podali Shankar Rajeshwar]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VSM}}}}
|rowspan="3"|{{Army|India}}
|1 December 2019
|31 May 2020
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=195296|title=Lt Gen P S Rajeshwar takes over as C-n-C of Andaman & Nicobar Command|date=2019-12-02|access-date=2019-12-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|user=SpokespersonMoD|number=1201508114853285894|title=Lt Gen P S Rajeshwar takes over as C-n-C of Andaman & Nicobar Command|date=2019-12-02}}</ref>
|-
|15
|[[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Manoj Pande (General)|Manoj Pande]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM|VSM}}}}
|1 June 2020
|31 May 2021
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Lieutenant General Manoj Pande takes over as Commander-In-Chief of Andaman & Nicobar Command Tomorrow; |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1628164 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>
|-
|16
|[[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Ajai Singh (general, CINCAN)|Ajai Singh]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}}
|1 June 2021
|Incumbent
|<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://theprint.in/defence/indias-crucial-eastern-army-command-andaman-nicobar-command-get-new-chiefs-tomorrow/668541/|title=India’s crucial Eastern Army Command, Andaman-Nicobar Command get new chiefs tomorrow|date=31 May 2021|work=ThePrint|access-date=31 May 2021}}</ref>
|}

===List of CINCAN by branches of service===
'''Army''' - 6<br/>
'''Navy''' - 7<br/>
'''Air Force''' - 3

==See also==
* [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]]
* [[Chief of Integrated Defence Staff]]
* [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{citation|first1=Anup|last1=Singh|title=Blue Waters Ahoy!, The Indian Navy 2001-2010 |year=2018|isbn= 9789353025526|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers India}}
* {{citation|first1=Anit|last1=Mukherjee|first2=C. Raja|last2=Mohan|title=India's Naval Strategy and Asian Security |year=2015 |isbn=9781317361336 |publisher=Routledge}}

==External links==
* [https://www.ids.nic.in/ancommand.php Official Website - CINCAN]

{{Military of India}}
{{Indian Army}}
{{Indian Navy}}

[[Category:Indian Army]]
[[Category:Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force]]
[[Category:Indian military appointments]]
[[Category:Commanders-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command| ]]