Kalyan Yadav SPKAY at 17:48, 15 March 2026

2026-03-15T17:48:54Z

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{{Short description|Former Chief of the Indian Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| office1 = 18th [[Chief of Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]]
| termstart1 = 31 July 2004
| termend1 = 31 October 2006
| president1 = [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]] [[Pratibha Patil]]
| primeminister1 = [[Manmohan Singh]]
| predecessor1 = [[Madhvendra Singh]]
| successor1 = [[Sureesh Mehta]]
| name = Arun Prakash
| honorific_suffix = [[PVSM]], [[AVSM]], [[VrC]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]]
| image = Arun Prakash.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| allegiance = {{flag|India}}
| branch = {{navy|India}}
| rank = [[File:IN_Admiral_Shoulder_curl.png|23px]] [[File:14-Indian Navy-ADM.svg|23px]]
[[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| commands = [[Western Naval Command]] [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]] [[Eastern Fleet (India)|Eastern Fleet]] {{ship|INS|Viraat|R22}} {{ship|INS|Vindhyagiri|F42}} [[INS Hansa]] [[INAS 300]] {{INS|Beas|1958|6}} {{ship|INS|Chatak|K96}}
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1944|10}}
| death_date =
| birth_place = [[Anantnag]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| death_place =
| serviceyears = 1966–2006
| laterwork =
| awards = [[File:Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Param Vishist Seva Medal]] [[File:Ati_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Ati Vishist Seva Medal]] [[File:Vir_Chakra_ribbon_bar.svg|20px]] [[Vir Chakra]] [[File:Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Vishisht Seva Medal]]
| battles = [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
}}
[[Admiral (India)|Admiral]] '''Arun Prakash''', [[PVSM]], [[AVSM]], [[VrC]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] (born October 1944) is a former flag officer of the [[Indian Navy]]. He served as the [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|chief of the Naval Staff]] from 31 July 2004 to 31 October 2006 and as the [[chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]] from 31 January 2005 to 31 October 2006. He is one of India's most decorated naval officers.<ref name=NewNavalChiefTimesIndia />

Prakash was born in a military family and raised in Jammu and Kashmir. He joined the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]], graduating in 1964. He was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1966. Trained as a [[naval aviator]], he served on India's first [[aircraft carrier]] {{INS|Vikrant|1961|6}}. During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], he was attached to the [[No. 20 Squadron IAF]]. He was awarded the [[Vir Chakra]] for leading airstrikes deep into enemy territory.

After the war, in 1976, he attended the [[Indian Air Force Test Pilot School]]. He subsequently commanded the [[Chamak-class missile boat]] {{ship|INS|Chatak|K96}}. He also commanded the naval squadron [[INAS 300]] and led its conversion to the [[British Aerospace Sea Harrier|Sea Harrier]]. He then commanded the [[Leopard-class frigate]] {{ship|INS|Beas|1958}} which was converted to a training ship. He also commanded the [[Nilgiri-class frigate (1972)|Nilgiri-class frigate]] {{ship|INS|Vindhyagiri|F42}}. In 1990, he was appointed the third [[commanding officer]] of the aircraft carrier {{ship|INS|Viraat|R22}}. As a commodore, He also commanded the [[naval air station]] [[INS Hansa]] in Goa.

Prakash was promoted to flag rank in 1993 and appointed [[Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Assistant Chief of Naval Staff]] (Air) (ACNS Air). In 1995, he took command of the [[Eastern Fleet (India)|Eastern Fleet]] as the 21st [[Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet]] (FOCEF). After a two-year stint, he took over as assistant chief of personnel (ACOP). Promoted to vice admiral, he served as the [[commandant of the National Defence Academy]] from 1997 to 1999, after which he took over as [[Chief of Personnel (India)|chief of personnel]] at Naval HQ. In 2001, he was appointed the first [[Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command|commander-in-chief]] of the newly created [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]]. He subsequently had stints as the flag officer commanding-in-chief [[Western Naval Command]] and [[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|vice chief of the Naval Staff]].

On 31 July 2004, Prakash assumed office as the 18th chief of the Naval Staff. He took over as the [[chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]] on 31 January 2005 from [[General (India)|General]] [[Nirmal Chander Vij]].

==Early life and education==
Prakash was born and grew up in the [[Kashmir Valley]]. His father was in the Kasmir Civil Service and rose to become the [[District collector|district commissioner]] of [[Leh]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Personnel/Chiefs/147-Arun-Prakash.html | title=Admiral Arun Prakash | publisher=Bharat Rakshak | access-date=18 April 2018 }}</ref> His two elder brothers also joined the [[Indian Armed Forces]], serving in the [[Indian Army]]. Although he wanted to join the Navy, he attended college in Chandigarh for two years at the insistence of his father before joining the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]] (NDA) in 1961. He graduated from NDA in 1964 as the cadet captain of his squadron.<ref name="PIB Bio">{{cite web |title=PIB |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive2/erelease.aspx |website=archive.pib.gov.in}}</ref>

==Career==
===Early career===
Prakash was commissioned into the Indian Navy as an acting sub-lieutenant on 1 January 1966.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=439 |date=30 July 1966 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1966/O-1664-1966-0031-75895.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He volunteered for [[naval aviation]] and received flying training from the [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF) at [[Bamrauli Air Force Station|Air Force Station Bamrauli]]. After receiving his 'wings' in 1968, he joined [[INAS 551]] for conversion to [[Hawker Sea Hawk]] jet fighter aircraft. He subsequently joined the ''White Tigers'' [[INAS 300]] and qualified deck landing on the [[aircraft carrier]] {{INS|Vikrant|1961|6}}. He also flew the [[Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander]] aircraft with [[INAS 550]] and the [[de Havilland Vampire|Vampire]] and [[HAL Kiran|Kiran]] aircraft with [[INAS 551]]. Subsequently, Prakash was one of two naval pilots deputed to the IAF and trained on the [[Hawker Hunter]] aircraft at [[Jamnagar Air Force Station]]. After training, he joined the [[No. 20 Squadron IAF|20th Squadron Lightnings]] at [[Hindon Air Force Station]]. Before the outbreak of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], the squadron moved to [[Pathankot Air Force Station]].<ref name=NewNavalChiefTimesIndia />

===Indo-Pakistani War of 1971===
In the 1971 [[Indo-Pakistan War]], for his gallantry in air action over [[West Pakistan]] and [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], he received the [[Vir Chakra]].

The Vir Chakra citation reads:
<blockquote>
{{center|'''CITATION''' 
'''LIEUTENANT ARUN PRAKASH, (00590-R)'''}}

During the operations against Pakistan in December 1971, Lieutenant Arun Prakash was one of the two naval pilots on deputation to the Indian Air Force. On 4 December he led an Indian Air Force strike mission to an enemy airfield. In this mission, he destroyed enemy's heavy transport on ground and returned to base. On 5 December he led a very deep penetration day operational strike into enemy territory and attacked airfields heavily defended by air and ground forces. He destroyed enemy's heavy transport aircraft, attacked troops and supplies and returned to base.

Throughout, Lieutenant Arun Prakash displayed gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty of a high order.<ref>{{cite web |title=ARUN PRAKASH {{!}} Gallantry Awards |url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/arun-prakash |website=gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref>
</blockquote>

[[File:The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh with the Chief Admiral Shri Arun Prakash at the demonstration of naval exercise on ship INS Viraat Goa- Mumbai on May 5, 2006.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Prakash with [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Manmohan Singh]] onboard {{ship|INS|Viraat|R22}}.]]

===Post-War===
After the war, Prakash served afloat in [[INS Vikrant (1961)]], {{INS|Kirpan|1959|6}}, and [[INS Delhi (1948)|INS ''Delhi'']] on which he received his watch keeping ticket. Promoted to [[lieutenant commander]] on 1 May 1976, he flew the [[Super Constellation]] that year for maritime air reconnaissance with [[INAS 312|Indian Navy Air Squadron 312]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=1668 |date=4 December 1976 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> In 1978, he was appointed commanding officer of the [[Chamak-class missile boat]] {{ship|INS|Chatak|K96}}. The following year, he was selected to attend the staff course at the [[Defence Services Staff College]], [[Wellington Cantonment|Wellington]]. In December 1979, he took over as the squadron commander of [[INAS 300]], serving till May 1980. He was promoted to the rank of [[commander]] on 1 July 1980.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=188 |date=14 February 1981 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> After the short tenure as 'Tiger Leader', he was appointed commanding officer of the training frigate {{INS|Beas|1958|6}}, on which young midshipmen were trained. In November 1979, India placed its first order for six [[British Aerospace Sea Harrier]] FRS Mk 51 fighters and two T Mk 60 Trainers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Navy to bid adieu to Sea Harrier Fighters {{!}} Indian Navy |url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/content/indian-navy-bid-adieu-sea-harrier-fighters |website=indiannavy.nic.in |access-date=27 September 2025 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510095021/http://indiannavy.nic.in/content/indian-navy-bid-adieu-sea-harrier-fighters |archive-date=2016-05-10}}</ref> Prakash was selected by the [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|CNS]] [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]] [[R. H. Tahiliani]] to induct the Sea Harriers into the Navy. He took command of INAS 300 for the second time in July 1981. He supervised the training of Indian Navy crew members in the [[United Kingdom]] for the Sea Harrier and ferried the newly acquired aircraft back to India in 1983. He was promoted to [[Captain (Indian Navy)|captain]] on 1 July 1986.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=903 |date=27 June 1987 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> In his aviation assignments, he logged more than 2,500 hours in the air in single and multi-engined, shore-based and carrier-based aircraft.<ref name=NextNavalChiefTheHindu>{{citation|title=Arun Prakash next Naval Chief|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2 June 2004|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/02/stories/2004060202191300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040612074528/http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/02/stories/2004060202191300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 June 2004|access-date=10 July 2011}}</ref> He then took over as captain (air) of the [[naval air station]] [[INS Hansa]] and subsequently as commanding officer.<ref name=NextNavalChiefTheHindu />

After over five years at Goa as squadron commander, captain (air) and CO, Prakash was appointed CO of the antisubmarine warfare frigate {{INS|Vindhyagiri|F42|6}}. In 1989, he was selected to attend the [[Naval War College]] in [[Rhode Island]]. After the course, he returned to India and was appointed the third commanding officer of the new aircraft carrier {{ship|INS|Viraat|R22}}. He was in command of ''Viraat'' till December 1991. In 1992, he was appointed naval assistant to the chief of the Naval Staff [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]] [[Laxminarayan Ramdas]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas: A war hero and champion of human rights |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/admiral-laxminarayan-ramdas-a-war-hero-and-champion-of-human-rights-9219051/ |website=The Indian Express |access-date=19 March 2024 |language=en |date=17 March 2024}}</ref>

===Flag rank===
After serving as NA for a year, on 4 January 1993, Prakash was promoted to the rank of [[Rear admiral (India)|rear admiral]] and appointed assistant chief of Naval Staff (Air) (ACNS Air).<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=1607 |date=25 November 1995 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> On 1 April 1995, after a two-year stint as ACNS, he was appointed the 21st [[Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet|flag officer commanding Eastern Fleet]]. He was in command of the [[Eastern Fleet (India)|Eastern Fleet]] for about a year and a half. In late 1996, he moved to Naval HQ as assistant chief of personnel (ACOP).

[[File:US Navy 050322-N-2383B-150 Adm. Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) conducts an office call with visiting Adm. Arun Prakash, Chairman, Chief's of Staff Committee.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee|Chairman, COSC]] & [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|CNS]] [[Admiral (India)|Adm]] Arun Prakash with [[Chief of Naval Operations|CNO]] [[Admiral (United States)|Adm]] [[Vern Clark]] in Washington, D.C.]]

He was then promoted to the rank of [[vice admiral]] on 31 July 1997,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=1124 |date=21 August 1999 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and took over as the [[commandant of the National Defence Academy]], an appointment he served in till 19 March 1999. He then moved to NHQ, having been appointed [[Chief of Personnel (India)|chief of personnel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=I Reports of the Task Forces on 'Management of Internal Security' and 'Management of Defence' Presented |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/HOME%20AFFAIR/2000-JULY-DEC-HOME-AFFAIRS/PDF/HOM-2000-10-01_083.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=1 October 2000}}</ref> In October 2001, he became the first [[Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command|commander-in-chief]] of the newly established [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]]. Then, on 31 December 2002, he took over as the flag officer commanding-in-chief (FOC-in-C) [[Western Naval Command]]. Following this assignment, he was appointed the [[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|vice chief of Naval Staff]], serving for a brief period from October 2003 to July 2004.

===Chief of Naval Staff===
Prakash was promoted to full [[Admiral (India)|admiral]] and was appointed the 20th [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|chief of Naval Staff]] on 31 July 2004.<ref name=NewNavalChiefTimesIndia>{{citation|title=Arun Prakash to be new Naval Chief|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=1 June 2004|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-06-01/india/27163171_1_naval-staff-personnel-at-naval-headquarters-vice-admiral-arun-prakash|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908044327/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-06-01/india/27163171_1_naval-staff-personnel-at-naval-headquarters-vice-admiral-arun-prakash|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 September 2012|access-date=10 July 2011}}</ref> With the retirement of [[General (India)|General]] [[Nirmal Chander Vij]], Admiral Prakash took over as the [[chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]] on 31 January 2005.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dec 31 |first1=TNN | title=Gen Vij new head of chiefs of staff panel {{!}} India News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gen-Vij-new-head-of-chiefs-of-staff-panel/articleshow/976587.cms |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> While serving as chief of Naval Staff, Prakash played an important role in renewing the [[Indian Navy]]'s relationships with the [[United States Navy]]<ref name=BetterRelationsDailyTimes>{{citation|title=US, India making military deal amid better relations|work=[[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]]|location=Pakistan|date=25 March 2005|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_25-3-2005_pg4_16|access-date=10 July 2011}}</ref> and in developing a vision of India's maritime strategy. Prakash retired as chief of Naval Staff in October 2006.<ref name=SureeshMehtaNewNavyChief>{{citation|title=Sureesh Mehta is new Navy chief|work=IBN Live|date=31 October 2006|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sureesh-mehta-is-new-navy-chief/25112-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016122233/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sureesh-mehta-is-new-navy-chief/25112-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2012|access-date=10 July 2011}}</ref> He retired from the post of chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee at the same time.

==Post-retirement==
Prakash settled in [[Goa]] after retiring from the Navy. He was the distinguished chair at the [[Naval War College, Goa]], from 2016 to 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Naval War College |url=https://twitter.com/InNwc/status/1554152441469251584 |website=twitter.com |access-date=26 January 2024}}</ref>

Following the [[Sinking of IRIS Dena|sinking of the Iranian IRIS Dena]] after attending the [[International Fleet Review 2026]] in India by the [[U.S. Navy]], he commented that the attack was shocking in multiple ways. He said "It’s a bit of treachery of the US to attend a peaceful function side-by-side with Iranian navy, where there’s a lot of camaraderie, and then the moment the Iranian ship pops out of harbour, it’s sunk ... They could have delayed this action to spare India this embarrassment." He also said that targeting a guest of India that posed no immediate threat "leaves a very bad taste in my mouth".<ref name=guardian-20260315>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/15/us-attack-iris-dena-undermines-indian-security-ties-iran |title='Bit of treachery': US attack on IRIS Dena undermines Indian security ties |last1=Ellis-Petersen |first1=Hannah |last2=Wipulasena |first2=Aanya |newspaper=The Guardian |date=15 March 2026 |access-date=15 March 2026}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
Prakash was awarded the [[Vir Chakra]] in 1972, the [[Vishisht Seva Medal]] in 1986, the [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] in 1992 and the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1986-JAN-JULY-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1986-01-24_089.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=26 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards for Defence Personnel |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1992-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1992-01-21_031.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=26 September 2025}}</ref>
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| colspan="4" |{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=IN Pilot.png|width=180}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[File:Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|105px]]
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vir Chakra ribbon bar.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|[[File:IND Samar Seva Star Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Paschimi Star Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Raksha Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|-
|[[File:IND Operation Parakram medal.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|105px]]
|-
|colspan="4"|[[File:IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|105px]] {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|COLSPAN=4|Naval aviator (Pilot) badge
|-
|[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|[[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|[[Vir Chakra]]
|[[Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|-
|Samar Seva Star
|[[Paschimi Star]]
|Raksha Medal
|[[Sangram Medal]]
|-
|[[Operation Parakram Medal]]
|[[Sainya Seva Medal]]
|50th Independence Anniversary Medal
|25th Independence Anniversary Medal
|-
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|30 Years Long Service Medal]]
| colspan="2"|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|9 Years Long Service Medal]]
|-
|}

==Published writings==
* ''From the Crow's Nest: A Compendium of Speeches and Writings on Maritime and Other Issues'', New Delhi: Lancer Publishers, 2007.

==References==
<references/>

==Sources==
{{commons category|Arun Prakash}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071029134346/http://www.defenceindia.com/defenceind/navy_chief.html Official Biography]

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
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{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee}}
{{Chief_of_the_Naval_Staff_(India)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prakash, Arun}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Anantnag]]
[[Category:Indian Navy admirals]]
[[Category:Indian naval aviators]]
[[Category:Defence Services Staff College alumni]]
[[Category:Naval War College alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vir Chakra]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Flag Officers Commanding Eastern Fleet]]
[[Category:Commandants of the National Defence Academy]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Personnel (India)]]
[[Category:Commanders-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command]]
[[Category:Vice chiefs of Naval Staff (India)]]
[[Category:Chiefs of the Naval Staff (India)]]

Arun Prakash - Revision history

Kalyan Yadav SPKAY at 17:48, 15 March 2026