Ajay Kochhar

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Vice Admiral
Ajay Kochhar
PVSM AVSM NM
Official portrait, 2026
48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 May 2026
Preceded bySanjay Vatsayan
Commander-in-Chief
Andaman and Nicobar Command
In office
1 October 2025 – 25 May 2026
Anil Chauhan
Preceded byDinesh Singh Rana
Succeeded byVineet McCarty
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Navy
Years of service
1 July 1988 - present
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands
Service number03326-H [1]
Awards

Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, PVSM, AVSM, NM is a serving flag officer in the Indian Navy who is currently serving as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff since 2026.[2] He previously served as the Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command.[3] He earlier served as the Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command,[4] as the Commandant of the National Defence Academy ,[5] and as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet.[6]

Early life and education

Kochhar is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, the Defence Service Staff College, Wellington and the Naval War College, Mumbai. He is also an alumnus of Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom.

Kochhar was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1988. He is a specialist in Gunnery and Missile Warfare. He has commanded five warships.[7] He commanded the Veer-class missile boats INS Nashak (K83) and INS Vibhuti (K45). He served as the Joint Director at Naval Plans at naval headquarters. He also commanded the Khukri-class corvette, INS Kirpan (P44) as a Commander.[8]

As a Captain, on 29 June 2013, as the commissioning commanding officer of the Talwar-class stealth guided missile frigate INS Trikand (F51), he commissioned the ship in Kaliningrad, Russia.[9][10] He also served as the Director of Staff Requirements at NHQ and as the third Commanding officer of aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (R33).[11] During his tenure as CO Vikramaditya, the carrier successfully completed the integration and operationalisation of its air wing. In the rank of Commodore, he served as Principal Director DSCT at NHQ.[8]

Flag rank

On elevation to Flag rank in 2018, Kochhar assumed the charge of Assistant Controller Carrier Project (ACCP) and as Assistant Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition (ACWP&A) at Naval headquarters, New Delhi.[12] As the ACCP, he oversaw the construction of the indigenous aircraft carrier. On 24 February 2021, he took over as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet succeeding Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan.[6] After a short stint, he relinquished the command Western Fleet on 27 December 2021 and was appointed Project Director (Operations and Training) of the Advanced Technology Vessel Project (ATVP).[13]

After promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral, on 1 April 2022, Kochhar took over as the Commandant of the National Defence Academy succeeding Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor.[14]After a two-year stint, he assumed the appointment of Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command on 25 May 2024 succeeding Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla.[15]

On 1 October 2025, Kochhar took over as the Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command succeeding Lieutenant General Dinesh Singh Rana who moved as Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command.[3][16] He relinquished the appointment of CINCAN on 25 May 2026.[17] After a short stint, on 29 May 2026, he took over as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff succeeding Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan who moved to Western Naval Command as its FOCinC.[18]

VAdm Ajay Kochhar as C-in-C Andaman and Nicobar Command

Personal life

Kochhar is married to Reyman, an artist. The couple has two children.[8]

Awards and decorations

Kochhar was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026,[19] the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022[20] and the Nao Sena Medal.


Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Nao Sena Medal Samanya Seva Medal
Operation Vijay Star Operation Vijay Medal Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal
75th Independence Anniversary Medal 50th Independence Anniversary Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal
20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

See also

References

  1. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1792624
  2. "VICE ADMIRAL AJAY KOCHHAR, PVSM, AVSM, NM, ASSUMES CHARGE AS THE 48TH VICE CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF". pib.gov.in. 29 May 2026. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  3. "Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar assumes charge of Andaman & Nicobar Command". www.ptinews.com. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  4. "Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar assumes charge as WNC's chief of staff". The Times of India. 28 May 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  5. "CHANGE AT THE HELM : VICE ADMIRAL AJAY KOCHHAR, AVSM, NM ASSUMES THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMANDANT NATIONAL DEFENCE ACDAEMY". pib.gov.in. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  6. "REAR ADMIRAL AJAY KOCHHAR ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE WESTERN FLEET (FOCWF)". pib.gov.in. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  7. "REAR ADMIRAL AJAY KOCHHAR ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE WESTERN FLEET (FOCWF)". pib.gov.in.
  8. "VICE ADMIRAL AJAY KOCHHAR, PVSM, AVSM, NM, ASSUMES CHARGE AS THE 48TH VICE CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  9. "Stealth Frigate 'INS Trikand' Joins Indian Navy". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  10. "INS Trikand, a Stealth Frigate joins Indian Navy | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
  11. "Capt Ajay Kochhar Commanding Officer INS Vikramaditya presents a painting of Aircraft Carrier to Hon'ble RRM during his visit". X (formerly twitter). Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  12. "Image Gallery". www.grse.in.
  13. "CHANGE OF COMMAND OF WESTERN FLEET". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  14. "Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar is new NDA Commandant". The Indian Express. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  15. "Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar assumes charge as WNC's chief of staff". The Times of India. 28 May 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  16. "Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar Assumed Command of ANC". www.spsnavalforces.com. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  17. "Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar Relinquishes Command of Andaman and Nicobar Command - Nicobar Times". 25 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  18. "Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar assumes charge as 48th Vice Chief of Naval Staff". ANI News. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  19. "77th REPUBLIC DAY PRESIDENT APPROVES DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND GALLANTRY AWARDS TO INDIAN NAVY PERSONNEL". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  20. "PRESS RELEASE - DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS TO INDIAN NAVY PERSONNEL ON REPUBLIC DAY". www.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 26 January 2022.