According to a Defence Ministry official, Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, PVSM, AVSM, NM, took over as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) on Friday.
According to a statement, the Flag Officer laid a floral wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi as a mournful tribute to the Bravehearts who gave their lives for the country.
On July 1, 1988, Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, a graduate of the esteemed National Defence Academy in Pune, was commissioned into the Indian Navy. Throughout his illustrious 37-year naval career, he has held a variety of command, operational, and staff positions as a specialist in gunnery and missile systems.He served as the commissioning commanding officer of the frigate Trikand and has commanded the Indian Naval Ships Nashak, Vibhuti, and Kirpan. Additionally, the Flag Officer has commanded the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. The carrier successfully finished integrating and operationalising its air wing during his tenure.
The Flag Officer, a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom, the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, and the Naval War College in Goa, performed very well in important strategic and policy-focused staff positions at Naval Headquarters. Among them were the Principal Director of DSCT, the Director of Staff Requirements, and the Joint Director at Naval Plans.

He held the positions of Assistant Controller of Carrier Projects and Assistant Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition after being promoted to Flag Rank in 2018. After leading the Western Fleet in 2021, he went on to manage the National Defence Academy, where he made a substantial contribution to improving training facilities and standards.
On May 25, 2024, in the midst of a difficult security situation in the Western Maritime Theatre, the Flag Officer took over as Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command. Along the Western Seaboard, he led Command's reaction to both conventional and unconventional threats, including high-speed naval operations during Operation Sindoor. He received the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026 for his outstanding leadership and deserving service of the highest calibre.

He was Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command before assuming the position of Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. In this capacity, he was instrumental in improving operational coordination as well as the integration and unity of the three Services.