Vice admiral (India)

Vice admiral
Flag of a vice admiral
Rank insignia of a vice admiral
Country	India
Service branch	Indian Navy
Abbreviation	VAdm
Rank	Three-star rank
Next higher rank	Admiral
Next lower rank	Rear admiral
Equivalent ranks	Lieutenant general(Indian Army) Air marshal(Indian Air Force)

Vice admiralis athree-starflag officerrank in theIndian Navy.It is the second-highest active rank in the Indian Navy. Vice admiral ranks above thetwo-star rankofrear admiraland below thefour-star rankofadmiral,which is held by theChief of the Naval Staff(CNS).

The equivalent rank in theIndian Armyislieutenant generaland in theIndian Air Forceisair marshal.Officers in the rank of vice admiral hold important appointments at the naval commands and at the naval headquarters.

History

AdmiralRam Dass Katariwas the first Indian to be promoted to the rank of Vice admiral. On 22 April 1958, he took over as the first IndianChief of the Naval Staff(CNS) and promoted to the substantive rank ofVice Admiral.

From 1948 to 1968, the appointment of CNS, the professional head of theIndian Navywas held by a vice admiral. The position of the CNS was upgraded from vice admiral toadmiralin 1968. The first officer to hold the rank was AdmiralAdhar Kumar Chatterjiwho was promoted to the rank while he served as the CNS.

Naval commanders (C-in-C grade)

Vice AdmiralsKarambir SinghandP N Murugesanin uniform

Senior vice admirals who are in the C-in-C grade (naval commanders), are considered to be in a grade higher than other vice admirals. They hold the senior-most appointments like theVice Chief of the Naval Staffand the heads of the three naval commands (styled "flag officer commanding-in-chief" ). The three FOC-in-C appointments are:

• Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command
• Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command
• Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command

Appointments

At naval headquarters, the principal staff officers (PSO) are senior vice admirals. The Directors General and Controllers are also officers of the rank of vice admiral. The chiefs of staff of the Western Naval Command and the Eastern Naval Command are also vice admirals.

Insignia

The flag of a vice admiral has a gold-blue octagon bearing naval crest in the middle, and three blue stars placed vertically at hoist side.

The badges of rank have a crossed sword and baton over three eight-pointed stars and theAshoka emblemabove, on a golden shoulder board. A vice admiral wearsgorget patcheswhich are golden patches with three white stars. Naval commanders in the C-in-C grade have additional oak leaves under the three white stars. In addition to this, the double-breastedreefer jackethas three golden sleeve stripes consisting of a broad band with two narrower bands.

Order of precedence

A vice admiral in the C-in-C grade ranks at No. 23 on theIndian order of precedence,along with lieutenant generals of theIndian Armyand air marshals of theIndian Air Forcein the C-in-C grade. The other vice admirals rank at No. 24 in the order of precedence.

Vice admirals in the C-in-C grade are at the apex pay scale (pay level 17), with a monthly pay of ₹225,000 (US$3,100). Other vice admirals, in the HAG+ pay scale (pay level 16) draw lesser, depending on the years in service. However, since they should not draw equivalent or more than the next higher level, the remuneration is capped at ₹224,000.

See also

• List of serving admirals of the Indian Navy
• Naval ranks and insignia of India

Bibliography

• Singh, Anup (2018),Blue Waters Ahoy!: The Indian Navy 2001-2010,HarperCollins Publishers India,ISBN978-9353025526