On May 31, 2019, Admiral Karambir Singh assumed command of the Indian Navy as the 24th Chief of the Naval Staff.
Prior to taking over the helm as the Chief of the Naval Staff, he was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy in July 1980, he earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1981 and has flown extensively on the Chetak (Alouette) and Kamov helicopters.
In his career spanning over 39 years, Singh has commanded Indian Coast Guard ship Chandbibi, missile corvette INS Vijaydurg, as well as two guided missile destroyers, INS Rana and INS Delhi. He has also served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet. Ashore, he has served at Naval Headquarters as the Joint Director Naval Air Staff, and as Captain Air and Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Air Station at Mumbai.
On promotion to flag rank, the Admiral was appointed as the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command.
In the rank of Vice Admiral, he has been Director General Project Seabird, in-charge of infrastructure development of the navy’s base at Karwar. At the Integrated Headquarters Ministry of Defence (Navy), the admiral has been the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and, subsequently, the Vice Chief of Naval Staff.
Singh has succeeded Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff, who retired after over four decades of service.
During his tenure as the 23rd CNS, Admiral Lanba set the tone for several transitions in operational, training and organizational philosophy of the Indian Navy.
Under his command, the Indian Navy implemented a series of measures under the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the government. Forty-nine ships and submarines are currently under construction in Indian shipyards, including the first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant.