{{Short description|Head of the Indian Naval Academy}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox official post | post = Commandant | body = the<br>[[Indian Naval Academy]] | native_name = | flag = File:Vice_Admiral_ensign_of_Indian_Navy.svg | flagsize = 150 | flagborder = | flagcaption = Flag of the Commandant (Vice Admiral's flag) | insignia = | insigniasize = | insigniacaption = | image = File:Vice_Admiral_Manish_Chadha.jpg | imagesize = 150px | alt = | incumbent = [[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Manish Chadha]], [[AVSM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] | incumbentsince = 1 August 2025 | type = | status = | department = | style = | member_of = | reports_to = [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command]] | residence = | seat = [[Ezhimala (hill, Kannur)|Ezhimala]], [[Kerala]], [[India]] | nominator = | appointer = | appointer_qualified = | termlength = | termlength_qualified = | constituting_instrument = | precursor = | formation = | first = | last = | abolished = | succession = | abbreviation = | unofficial_names = | deputy = | salary = | website = {{URL|http://www.ina.gov.in}} }} The '''Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy''' is the head and in-charge of all the functioning of the [[Indian Naval Academy]]. The commandant of the academy is a [[three-star rank]] officer holding the rank of [[Vice Admiral (India)|vice admiral]]. He is supported by the deputy commandant, a [[Two-star rank|two-star]] appointment and the heads of the Academic Wing ([[rear admiral]] principal), Training Wing ([[Commodore (India)|commodore]] rank officer) and the Admin wing ([[Commodore (India)|commodore]] rank officer).<ref>{{cite web |title=Headquarters {{!}} INA |url=https://www.ina.gov.in/?q=Headquarters |website=www.ina.gov.in}}</ref> The current Commandant is Vice Admiral [[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Manish Chadha]] who took over in August 2025.
==History== The Naval Academy (NAVAC) was set up in Cochin in 1969 as a temporary institution, to train officers for the Navy. The first Officer-in-charge (OIC) was [[Commander]] [[Laxminarayan Ramdas]]. The title of the head of the institution changed to commandant in 1980. The academy moved to Goa in 1986 under Commandants Captain M.S. Bedi and Captain O.P. Bansal.{{sfn|Singh|2018|p=183}}
In 2008, the academy moved to Ezhimala in Kerala and was re-christened the Indian Naval Academy (INA). [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] M. P. Muralidharan took over as the first commandant of INA.{{sfn|Singh|2018|p=188}}
==List of Commandants== {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! scope="col" style="width: 20px;" | S.No ! scope="col" style="width: 450px;" | Name ! scope="col" style="width: 160px;" | Appointment Date ! scope="col" style="width: 160px;" | Left Office ! scope="col" style="width: 700px;" | Notes |- | 1|| [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] D. Mohindra {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|NM|VSM}}}}|| September 1980|| March 1982|| <ref>{{cite web |title=Gallery {{!}} INA |url=https://www.ina.gov.in/?q=Gallery |website=www.ina.gov.in}}</ref> |- | 2|| [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] [[Madhvendra Singh]] || March 1982 || July 1983|| Later served as the [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Change of guard |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl1824/18240360.htm |website=frontline.thehindu.com}}</ref> |- | 3|| [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] M. V. Karnik || August 1983|| April 1986|| |- | 4||[[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] M. S. Bedi || April 1986 ||July 1986|| |- | 5|| [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] O. P. Bansal {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|VSM}}}}|| July 1986 ||June 1987|| |- | 6|| [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] K. Mohan Rao {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|VSM}}}} || July 1987|| July 1989|| Later [[Director General Project Seabird]] |- | 7|| [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] N. P. Mehta || July 1989||August 1990|| |- | 8|| [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] K. P. Mathew||August 1990 ||December 1991|| |- | 9|| [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] [[Jagjit Singh Bedi]]|| December 1991 || June 1993 || Later [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command]]. |- | 10|| [[Commodore (India)|Commodore]] [[Nirmal Kumar Verma]] || July 1993||September 1994|| Later Chief of the Naval Staff. |- | 11|| [[Commodore (India)|Commodore]] N. Venugopal {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|VSM}}}} || September 1994 || December 1997 || |- | 12|| [[Commodore (India)|Commodore]] [[R. F. Contractor]] ||December 1997 ||April 1999|| Later [[Director General of the Indian Coast Guard]]. |- | 10|| [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] [[Surinder Pal Singh Cheema|S. P. S. Cheema]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|NM}}}}|| April 1999||June 2001|| Later served as [[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet]], Chief of the [[Integrated Defence Staff]],<ref>{{cite web |title=New Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Takes Over |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=87159 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref> Commander-in Chief [[Strategic Forces Command]],<ref>{{cite web |agency=Press Trust of India |title=Lt Gen Amit Sharma is new commander of strategic forces |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/lt-gen-amit-sharma-is-new-commander-of-strategic-forces-114061301188_1.html |website=Business Standard India |date=13 June 2014}}</ref> Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief [[Southern Naval Command]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral SPS Cheema takes over as FOC-in-c (South) {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/vice-admiral-sps-cheema-takes-over-foc-c-south |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref> and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief [[Western Naval Command]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral S.P.S Cheema new chief of Western Naval Command |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/vice-admiral-s-p-s-cheema-new-chief-of-western-naval-command-115033100533_1.html |website=Business Standard India |date=31 March 2015}}</ref> |- | 13|| [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] K. S. Aiyappa || June 2001 || June 2004 || |- | 14|| [[Commodore (India)|Commodore]] N. N. Rao||June 2004 ||June 2007|| |- | 15|| [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] [[M. A. Hampiholi]] || June 2007 || January 2008 || Later served as Flag officer Commanding [[Western Fleet (India)|Western Fleet]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rear Admiral MA Hampiholi, NM Takes Over as Western Fleet Commander {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/rear-admiral-ma-hampiholi-nm-takes-over-western-fleet-commander |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref> |- | colspan="5" |'''Commandant INA, Ezhimala''' |- | 16|| [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] M. P. Muralidharan || January 2008 {{refn|Promoted to the rank of vice-admiral on 18 February 2009.{{sfn|Singh|2018|p=187}}|group= n}}|| September 2009 ||First Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy at the Ezhimala campus.<ref>{{cite web |title=Naval Academy bids adieu to Vice Admiral |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/Naval-Academy-bids-adieu-to-Vice-Admiral/article16876836.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=26 August 2009}}</ref> Later served as Director General [[Indian Coast Guard]] (DGICG).<ref>{{cite web |title=Coast Guard Officers complete Training {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/coast-guard-officers-complete-training |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref> |- | 17|| [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] Anurag Thapliyal || September 2009 {{refn|Promoted to the rank of vice-admiral on 1 October 2009.{{sfn|Singh|2018|p=187}}|group= n}}|| January 2012 || <ref>{{cite web |last1=Anandan |first1=S. |title=Naval Academy may enrol foreign trainees soon |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Naval-Academy-may-enrol-foreign-trainees-soon/article13372333.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=20 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=h7 |url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2011/jul01-11/h7.htm |website=sainiksamachar.nic.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Naval academy celebrates Independence Day |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/Naval-academy-celebrates-Independence-Day/article16134199.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=15 August 2010}}</ref> Later served as Director General [[Indian Coast Guard]] (DGICG) <ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral Tapliyal, Director General Coast Guard Commissions CG Ship 'Abhinav' {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/vice-admiral-tapliyal-director-general-coast-guard-commissions-cg-ship-abhinav |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref> |- | 18|| [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Pradeep Chauhan]] || February 2012|| November 2013 || <ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan to take over as Commandant Indian Naval Academy (INA) {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/vice-admiral-pradeep-chauhan-take-over-commandant-indian-naval-academy-ina |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref> |- | 19|| [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Ajit Kumar P]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|AVSM|VSM}}}} || December 2013|| October 2016 || Later served as [[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]] and [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command]]. |- | 20|| [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[SV Bhokare]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|YSM|NM}}}} || October 2016 || February 2018 || Later served as Inspector General Nuclear Safety.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inspector General Nuclear Safety (IGNS) {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/inspector-general-nuclear-safety-igns |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref> |- | 21|| [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[R. B. Pandit]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}} || February 2018 || June 2019 || Later served as Commander-in-Chief,[[Strategic Forces Command]].<ref name="indiannavy.nic.in">{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, AVSM, NM Assumes Charge as Commandant Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/vice-admiral-dinesh-k-tripathi-avsm-nm-assumes-charge-commandant-indian-naval-academy |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref> |- | 22|| [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Dinesh K Tripathi]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|AVSM|NM}}}}|| June 2019 || July 2020 || Current [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]].<ref name="indiannavy.nic.in"/><ref name="Staff Reporter">{{cite web |author=Staff Reporter |title=New Commandant for Naval Academy |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/new-commandant-for-naval-academy/article32207749.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=28 July 2020}}</ref> |- | 23|| [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[M. A. Hampiholi]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|AVSM|NM}}}}|| July 2020 || 29 November 2021 || Later served as [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command]]<ref name="Staff Reporter"/> |- | 24|| [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Puneet Kumar Bahl]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|AVSM|VSM}}}}|| 1 December 2021 || 31 December 2023|| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ina.gov.in/?q=node/1406|title=COMMANDANT, VICE ADMIRAL PUNEET K BAHL, AVSM, VSM|date=2021-12-27}}</ref> |- |25|| [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Vineet McCarty]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}} ||15 January 2024||29 August 2024||Current [[Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Naval Academy |url=https://twitter.com/IN_NavalAcademy/status/1746869858527228335 |website=twitter.com |access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref> |- |26|| [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[C. R. Praveen Nair]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|NM}}}} ||29 August 2024||31 July 2025||Current [[Controller of Personnel Services]].<ref>{{cite web |title=VICE ADMIRAL CR PRAVEEN NAIR, NM TAKES OVER AS THE COMMANDANT, INDIAN NAVAL ACADEMY, EZHIMALA |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2049761 |website=pib.gov.in |access-date=29 August 2024}}</ref> |- |27|| [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Manish Chadha]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|AVSM|VSM}}}} ||1 August 2025||Present||<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Naval Academy |url=https://x.com/IN_NavalAcademy/status/1951202462775574624 |website=x.com |access-date=1 August 2025}}</ref> |}
==Deputy Commandants== The list of Deputy Commandants and Chief Instructors of the INA:
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! scope="col" style="width: 20px;" | S.No ! scope="col" style="width: 450px;" | Name ! scope="col" style="width: 160px;" | Appointment Date ! scope="col" style="width: 160px;" | Left Office ! scope="col" style="width: 700px;" | Notes |- | 1 | [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] Kapil Gupta {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|VSM}}}} | 1 November 2008 | 18 April 2011 | First Deputy Commandant of INA.<ref name="DepCom INA">{{cite web |title=Deputy Commandants {{!}} INA |url=https://www.ina.gov.in/?q=Deputy_commandants |website=www.ina.gov.in |access-date=23 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref> |- | 2 | [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] L. V. Sarat Babu {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|NM}}}} | 7 June 2011 | 28 August 2012 | Later Chairman and Managing Director, [[Hindustan Shipyard Limited]].<ref name="DepCom INA" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Takes over as HSL CMD |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/Takes-over-as-HSL-CMD/article13986121.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=23 April 2023 |language=en-IN |date=6 January 2016}}</ref> |- | 3 | [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] G. V. Ravindran | 29 August 2012 | 30 June 2014 | <ref name="DepCom INA" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Passing Out Parade held at Indian Naval Academy {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/passing-out-parade-held-indian-naval-academy |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in |access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref> |- | 4 | [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] M. D. Suresh {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|NM}}}} | 14 July 2014 | 29 January 2018 | Later Chief of Staff, [[Southern Naval Command]].<ref>{{cite web |title=INA Deputy Commandant takes charge |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/ina-deputy-commandant-takes-charge/article6216727.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=23 April 2023 |language=en-IN |date=16 July 2014}}</ref> |- | 5 | [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] [[Puneet Chadha]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|VSM}}}} | 27 March 2018 | 3 March 2019 | Later Additional Director General [[National Cadet Corps (India)|National Cadet Corps]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rear Admiral Puneet Chadha, VSM Assumes Charge as the Deputy Commandant, Indian Naval Academy {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/rear-admiral-puneet-chadha-vsm-assumes-charge-deputy-commandant-indian-naval-academy |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in |access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref> |- | 6 | [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] [[Tarun Sobti]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|VSM}}}} | 4 March 2019 | 11 January 2021 | Current [[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Correspondent |first1=Special |title=Rear Admiral Tarun Sobti is new INA Deputy Commandant |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/rear-admiral-tarun-sobti-is-new-ina-deputy-commandant/article26444113.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=23 April 2023 |language=en-IN |date=6 March 2019}}</ref> |- | 7 | [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] [[A. N. Pramod]] | 11 January 2021 | 1 April 2022 | Current [[Director General Naval Operations]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rear Admiral AN Pramod Assumes Charge as Deputy Commandant Indian Naval Academy {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://indiannavy.nic.in/content/rear-admiral-pramod-assumes-charge-deputy-commandant-indian-naval-academy |website=indiannavy.nic.in |access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref> |- | 8 | [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] [[Ajay D. Theophilus]] | 1 April 2022 | 31 July 2023 |Current [[Flag Officer Commanding Goa Naval Area]] and [[Flag Officer Naval Aviation (India)|Flag Officer Naval Aviation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=REAR ADMIRAL AJAY D THEOPHILUS ASSUMES CHARGE AS DEPUTY COMMANDANT, INA {{!}} INA |url=https://www.ina.gov.in/?q=node/1716 |website=www.ina.gov.in |access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref> |- | 9 | [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] Prakash Gopalan | 1 December 2023 | 31 January 2026 |Current Chief of Staff, [[Southern Naval Command]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Prakash Gopalan assumes Deputy Commandant of INA - Goa Chronicle |url=https://goachronicle.com/prakash-gopalan-assumes-deputy-commandant-of-ina/ |website=goachronicle.com |access-date=8 January 2024 |date=2 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Naval Academy |url=https://twitter.com/IN_NavalAcademy/status/1730575923916030379 |website=twitter.com |access-date=8 January 2024}}</ref> |- | 10 | [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] Happy Mohan {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|VSM}}}} | 1 December 2023 | 31 January 2026 |Current DepCom.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prakash Gopalan assumes Deputy Commandant of INA - Goa Chronicle |url=https://x.com/IN_NavalAcademy/status/2017969618409955607 |website=x.com |access-date=15 May 2026}}</ref> |- |}
== See also == * [[Commandant of the Indian Military Academy]] * [[Commandant of the Air Force Academy]] * [[List of Commandants of the National Defence Academy|Commandant of the National Defence Academy]] * [[Commandant of the Officers Training Academy, Chennai]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==Notes== {{Reflist|50em|group=n}}
==Bibliography== * {{citation|first1=Anup|last1=Singh|title=Blue Waters Ahoy!, The Indian Navy 2001-2010 |year=2018|isbn= 9789353025526|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers India}}
{{Indian military academies and colleges}} {{coord missing|India}}
[[Category:Indian Navy]] [[Category:Indian military appointments]] [[Category:Indian Navy appointments]]