KARTIK at 11:51, 22 October 2025

2025-10-22T11:51:39Z

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{{Short description|Retired Indian navy admiral}}
{{For|the politician|Karambir Singh Ghuman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = '''[[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]'''
| name = Karambir Singh
| honorific_suffix = [[PVSM]] [[AVSM]] [[Aide-de-camp|ADC]]
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Official portrait, 2019
| office = 24th [[Chief of Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]]
| term_start = 31 May 2019
| term_end = 30 November 2021<ref name="cns-new"/>
| president = [[Ram Nath Kovind]]
| primeminister = [[Narendra Modi]]
| predecessor = [[Sunil Lanba]]
| successor = [[R. Hari Kumar]]
| office1 = 33rd [[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]]
| term_start1 = 31 May 2016
| term_end1 = 30 October 2017
| president1 = [[Ram Nath Kovind]]
| primeminister1 = [[Narendra Modi]]
| predecessor1 = [[Parasurama Naidu Murugesan]]
| successor1 = [[Ajit Kumar P]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1959|11|03}}<ref name="ET">{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/karambir-singh-to-be-next-chief-of-naval-staff/articleshow/68535047.cms?from=mdr|title=Karambir Singh to be Next Chief of Naval Staff|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=23 March 2019}}</ref>
| death_date = 
| birth_place = [[Jalandhar]], [[East Punjab|Punjab]], [[India]]
| death_place =
| placeofburial =
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_coordinates = 
| alma_mater = [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]] ([[BTech]])<br>[[Defence Services Staff College]] ([[MSc]])
| nickname = "KB"
| birth_name =
| allegiance = {{flag|India}}
| branch = {{navy|India}}
| serviceyears = June 1980 - November 2021
| rank = [[File:IN Admiral Shoulder curl.png|23px]] [[File:14-Indian Navy-ADM.svg|23px]] [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]
| military_blank1 = [[Service number]]
| military_data1 = 02151-N
| unit =
| commands = {{plainlist |
* [[Chief of Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]]
* [[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]]
* [[Eastern Naval Command]]
* Naval Air Station, Mumbai
* [[INS Delhi (D61)|INS ''Delhi'']]
* [[INS Rana (D52)|INS ''Rana'']]
* [[INS Vijaydurg (K71)|INS ''Vijaydurg'']]
* [[Jija Bai-class patrol vessel|ICGS ''Chand Bibi'']]
}}
| battles =
| battles_label =
| awards = {{plainlist|
* [[File:Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
* [[File:Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Ati Vishist Seva Medal]]
}}
| memorials =
| spouse = 
| relations =
| laterwork =
| signature =
| website = 
| module =
}}

'''[[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]''' '''Karambir Singh''', [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal|AVSM]], [[Aide-de-camp|ADC]] (born 3 November 1959), is a former flag officer of [[Indian Navy]], who served as the 24th [[Chief of Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]] (CNS). The "Grey Eagle" (senior-most serving naval aviator)<ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, AVSM, assumed charge as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/vice-admiral-karambir-singh-avsmassumed-charge-deputy-chief-naval-staff |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref> of the Navy, he replaced Admiral [[Sunil Lanba]] as the CNS after his retirement on 31 May 2019.<ref name="dcns">{{cite web|url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/vice-admiral-karambir-singh-avsmassumed-charge-deputy-chief-naval-staff|title=Vice Admiral Karambir Singh Assumed Charge as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff|access-date=23 March 2019|author=PIB}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Admiral Karambir Singh Sworn In As Chief Of Naval Staff |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-admiral-karambir-singh-sworn-in-as-chief-of-naval-staff/331275 |work=Outlook |date=31 May 2019}}</ref> Prior to his appointment, Admiral Singh served as the [[Vice Chief of Naval Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]] and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, [[Eastern Naval Command]].

== Early life and education ==
Born on 3 November 1959 in [[Jalandhar]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], Admiral Singh is a second generation military officer.<ref name="ET" /> He attended the [[Barnes School]] in [[Deolali]], before joining the 56th course of the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]], where he was in the Hunter Squadron.<ref name="news18">{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/vice-admiral-karambir-singh-to-be-next-chief-of-naval-staff-2075551.html|title=Vice Admiral Karambir Singh to be Next Chief of Naval Staff|access-date=23 March 2019|author=news18.com|date=23 March 2019}}</ref> He is an alumnus of the [[Defence Services Staff College]], [[Wellington Cantonment|Wellington]] and the [[College of Naval Warfare]], Mumbai.<ref name="ENC">{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=173096|title=Vice Admiral Karambir Singh takes over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ENC|website=pib.nic.in|language=en|access-date=2018-01-26|author=PIB}}</ref>

== Career ==
[[File:CDS General Bipin Rawat with COAS General Manoj Mukund Naravane, CNS Admiral Karambir Singh and CAS Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria after the ceremonial Guard of Honour, in New Delhi on January 01, 2020.jpg|thumb|[[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|CDS]] [[General (India)|General]] [[Bipin Rawat]] with [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|COAS]] [[General (India)|General]] [[Manoj Mukund Naravane]], [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|CNS]] [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]] Karambir Singh and [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|CAS]] [[Air chief marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]] [[R. K. S. Bhadauria|R.K.S. Bhadauria]] after the ceremonial Guard of Honour, in [[New Delhi]] on January 1, 2020]]
[[File:Admiral Sunil Lanba the Chief of the Naval Staff being received by Vice Adm Karambir Singh FOC-in-Chief ENC.jpg|thumb|Admiral [[Sunil Lanba]] the Chief of the Naval Staff being received by Vice Adm. Karambir Singh FOC-in-Chief ENC]]
[[File:Indian Navy Vice Admiral Karambir Singh visits INS Sahyadri off the coast of Hawaii (2).jpg|thumb|Indian Navy Vice Admiral Karambir Singh visits [[INS Sahyadri]] off the coast of Hawaii]]
He was commissioned into the [[Indian Navy]] in July 1980 and earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1982. He has extensive experience with the [[HAL Chetak]], [[Kamov Ka-25]] and [[Kamov Ka-27|Kamov Ka-28]] helicopters.<ref name="dcns" />

Singh has commanded the [[Jija Bai-class patrol vessel]] of the [[Indian Coast Guard]] ICGS ''Chand Bibi'' and the [[lead ship]] of [[Durg-class corvette|her-class]] of corvettes {{ship|INS|Vijaydurg|K71}} and the [[Rajput-class destroyer|Rajput-class]] [[guided missile destroyer]] {{ship|INS|Rana|D52}}. He was in command of the ''Rana'' during the [[President's fleet review|Review of the Fleet]] by the [[President of India]] [[Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]] in 2005. During the review, ''Rana'' served as the [[flag ship]] of the [[Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet]] [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] [[Sanjeev Bhasin]]. He subsequently commanded the lead ship of [[Delhi-class destroyer|her-class]] of guided missile destroyers, {{ship|INS|Delhi|D61}}.

In his staff appointments, he served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the [[Western Fleet (India)|Western Fleet]] and served at Naval Headquarters as the Joint Director Naval Air Staff. He also served as the Captain Air and Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Air Station at Mumbai. He was also a member of the Aircrew Instrument Rating and Categorisation Board (AIRCATS).<ref name="VCNS">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/vice-admiral-karambir-singh-avsm-assumes-charge-vice-chief-naval-staff|title=Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, AVSM assumes charge as Vice Chief of Naval Staff|date=31 May 2016|publisher=Indian Navy|access-date=8 June 2016|author=Indian Navy}}</ref><ref name="ENC" />

===Flag rank===
On promotion to flag rank, Singh was appointed the Chief of Staff, [[Eastern Naval Command]]. His other important flag appointments include Chief of Staff of the Tri-Services Unified Command at Andaman & Nicobar Islands and as the [[Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area|Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area]] (FOMAG).<ref name="ENC" /> As the [[Director General Project Seabird]], he stewarded the development of the Navy's new base at Karwar. He went on serve as the [[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]], following which he was appointed as Vice Chief of Naval Staff.<ref name="VCNS" />

He assumed office of the [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command]] on 31 October 2017, succeeding Vice Admiral [[Harish Bisht]].<ref name="ENC" /> In a career spanning close to 39 years, he has been awarded the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|Param Vishist Seva Medal]] and the [[Ati Vishist Seva Medal]].<ref name="pvsm">{{cite web|url=http://www.pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1517875|website=www.pib.nic.in|title=390 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced|language=en|access-date=2018-01-26|author=PIB}}</ref>

On 23 March 2019, the [[Government of India]] named him the [[Chief of Naval Staff (India)|Chief of Naval Staff]], superseding [[Vice Admiral]] [[Bimal Verma]]. He is the first helicopter pilot to have served as Chief of Staff of the Indian Navy.<ref name="theprint">{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/defence/vice-admiral-karambir-singh-is-new-navy-chief-supersedes-vice-admiral-bimal-verma/210645/|title=Vice Admiral Karambir Singh is new Navy Chief|author=Snehesh Alex Philip|website=[[ThePrint]] |access-date=23 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="theWeek">{{cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/03/23/vice-admiral-karambir-singh-is-new-chief-of-naval-staff.html|title=Vice Admiral Karambir Singh is new Chief of Naval Staff|author=Pradip R Sagar|website=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]] |access-date=23 March 2019}}</ref>

He superannuated on 30 November 2021, and was succeeded as Chief of Naval Staff by [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[R. Hari Kumar]].<ref name="cns-new">{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1770412|title=Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar to be the next Chief of the Naval Staff|publisher=PIB|date=2021-11-09}}</ref>

=== Bilateral visits as CNS ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Country
!Date
!Purpose
!Reference
|-
|{{flag|Australia}}
|rowspan="2"|2–6 September 2019
| rowspan="2"|Bilateral discussions and pacific strategic dialogue.
| rowspan="2"|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1583745|title=Visit of the Chief of the Naval Staff to Australia and New Zealand 02 to 06 September 2019|website=pib.gov.in|access-date=2019-09-01}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|New Zealand}}
|-
|{{flag|Bangladesh}}
|21–24 September 2019
|Consolidate and enhance the bilateral maritime relations between India and Bangladesh, with a focus on the Bay of Bengal.
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1585737|title=Visit of Admiral Karambir Singh Chief of the Naval Staff to Bangladesh (21 to 24 Sep 19)|website=pib.gov.in|access-date=2019-09-22}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}}
|19–22 December 2019
|To enhance the bilateral maritime relations in the Indian Ocean Region.
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1596881|title=Visit of Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff to Sri Lanka (19 to 22 Dec 19)|website=pib.gov.in|access-date=2019-12-18}}</ref>

|}

==Awards and decorations==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|COLSPAN=4|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IN Pilot.png|width=150}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[File:IND Samanya Seva medal.svg|105px]]
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Operation Vijay medal.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Operation Parakram medal.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|
|{{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|[[Indian Navy ranks and insignia#Specialisation Badges|Pilot badge]]
|-
|[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|Param Vishist Seva Medal]]
|[[Ati Vishist Seva Medal]]
|[[Samanya Seva Medal]]
|[[Operation Vijay Medal]]
|-
|[[Operation Parakram Medal]]
|[[Sainya Seva Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|50th Anniversary of Independence Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|30 Years Long Service Medal]]
|-
|
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|9 Years Long Service Medal]]
|
|}

Singh was conferred with the [[Order of the Rising Sun]], Gold and Silver Star of [[Japan]] on 29 April 2023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/11_000001_00972.html|title=2023 Spring Conferment of Decorations (English)|date=2023-04-29|access-date=2023-06-06|website=www.in.emb-japan.go.jp}}</ref> as a part of the 2023 Spring Conferment of Decorations. He was conferred the order in recognition of his contributions to strengthening the relationship between Japan and India on national defense.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Major general (India)|Major General]] N. P. Padhi}}
{{s-ttl | title = Chief of Staff, [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]] | years = 2011 - 2012}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] Sudhir Pillai }}
{{s-bef | before = [[Bimal Verma]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area|Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area]] | years = 2012 - 2013}}
{{s-aft | after = [[G Ashok Kumar|G. Ashok Kumar]] }}
{{s-bef | before = C. S. Murthy}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Director General Project Seabird]] | years = 2013 - 2015}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Murlidhar Sadashiv Pawar]]}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Rama Kant Pattanaik]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (India)|Deputy Chief of Naval Staff]] | years = 2015 - 2016}}
{{s-aft | after = [[G Ashok Kumar|G. Ashok Kumar]] }}
{{s-bef | before = [[Parasurama Naidu Murugesan]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Vice Chief of Naval Staff]] | years = 31 May 2016 – 30 October 2017}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Ajit Kumar (naval officer)|Ajit Kumar]] }}
{{s-bef | before = [[Harish Bisht]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command]] | years = 31 October 2017 – 30 May 2019}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Atul Kumar Jain]] }}
{{s-bef | before = [[Sunil Lanba]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of Naval Staff]] | years = 31 May 2019 - 30 November 2021}}
{{s-aft | after = [[R. Hari Kumar]] }}
{{s-end}}

{{Chief of the Naval Staff (India)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Karambir}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Indian Navy admirals]]
[[Category:Indian naval aviators]]
[[Category:Chiefs of the Naval Staff (India)]]
[[Category:Vice chiefs of Naval Staff (India)]]
[[Category:Deputy chiefs of Naval Staff (India)]]
[[Category:Directors General Project Seabird]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:National Defence Academy (India) alumni]]
[[Category:Defence Services Staff College alumni]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the Defence Services Staff College]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Naval War College, Goa]]
[[Category:Flag Officers Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area]]

Karambir Singh - Revision history

KARTIK at 11:51, 22 October 2025