R. B. Pandit

{{Short description|Former Senior officer in the Indian Navy}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = Vice Admiral | name = R. B. Pandit | honorific_suffix = PVSM, AVSM | image = File:VAdm RB Pandit.jpg | caption = | image_size = | alt = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = | other_name = | nickname = | birth_date =  | birth_place = | death_date =  | death_place = | burial_label = | burial_place = | burial_coordinates =  | allegiance = {{IND}} | branch = {{navy|India}} | service_years = July 1984 - September 2023 | service_number = 02746-R <ref>https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1893742&reg=3&lang=2</ref> | rank = 20px 20px Vice Admiral | rank_label = | unit = | commands = {{ plainlist| * Western Fleet * 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron *INS Jalashwa *{{INS|Vindhyagiri|F42|6}} *INS Nirghat }} | battles_label = | battles = | awards = 20px Param Vishisht Seva Medal<br/>20px Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | memorials = | spouse =  | relations = | other_work = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | website =  | module = }}

Vice Admiral '''Ravindra Bhartruhari Pandit''', PVSM, AVSM is a former Flag Officer of the Indian Navy. He last served as the Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command. He assumed the position from Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar. He earlier served as the Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command, as Commandant of Indian Naval Academy and as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet.

== Career == Pandit graduated from the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Navy in July 1984. He is an Anti-submarine warfare specialist.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral RB Pandit, AVSM takes over as the Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command at Mumbai. Commissioned in Jul 84, he is an alumnus of NDA. An Anti Submarine Warfare Specialist, he has commanded a missile corvette, a frigate & a Landing Platform Dock 1/2pic.twitter.com/9qlEBslT5Z |url=https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1140223632230121473 |language=en |date=16 June 2019}}</ref>

During his career, he has attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London. Pandit has commanded the Veer-class corvette INS Nirghat, the Nilgiri-class frigate {{INS|Vindhyagiri|F42|6}} and the only Amphibious transport dock of the Indian Navy - the INS Jalashwa. He has also commanded the 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron.<ref name="Twitter">{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral RB Pandit, AVSM Assumes Charge as Commandant Indian Naval Academy | date=19 February 2018 |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/vice-admiral-rb-pandit-avsm-assumes-charge-commandant-indian-naval-academy |publisher=Indian Navy|accessdate=19 January 2020}}</ref>

===Flag rank=== After promotion to the flag rank of Rear Admiral, Pandit commanded the Western Fleet.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rear Admiral R.B. Pandit is Western Fleet chief |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/Rear-Admiral-R.B.-Pandit-is-Western-Fleet-chief/article16072522.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=16 October 2016}}</ref>

Ashore, he has served as the Naval Advisor at the High Commission of India, Islamabad in Pakistan, the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence) at the Naval Headquarters and the Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command.<ref>{{cite web |title=R B Pandit takes charge as head of Southern command |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-r-b-pandit-takes-charge-as-head-of-southern-command-2074139 |website=DNA India |language=en |date=2 April 2015}}</ref>

In the rank of Vice Admiral, he has served as the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala<ref>{{cite web |title=Vice-Admiral Pandit takes over as Commandant of INA |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/vice-admiral-pandit-takes-over-as-commandant-of-ina/articleshow/62982000.cms?from=mdr |website=The Economic Times |date=19 February 2018}}</ref> before taking over as the Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command. On 26 January 2018, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service of a high order.<ref>{{cite web |title=390 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1517875 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref> He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command on 31 August 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=prasadpanseMT/status/1433351019845410818 |url=https://twitter.com/prasadpanseMT/status/1433351019845410818 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |access-date=5 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref> On 26 January 2023, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service of the most exceptional order.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1893744|title=DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND GALLANTRY AWARDS TO INDIAN NAVY PERSONNEL ON REPUBLIC DAY - 2023|publisher=PIB|date=2023-01-25}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations== Pandit was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2018 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023.

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Samanya_Seva_medal.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Special_Service_Medal_Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Operation Vijay medal.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Sainya_Seva_Medal_Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Videsh_Seva_Medal_Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}} |- |colspan=4|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_30_Years_Long_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}} |}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- |Param Vishisht Seva Medal |Ati Vishisht Seva Medal |Samanya Seva Medal |Special Service Medal

|- | |30 Years Long Service Medal |20 Years Long Service Medal |9 Years Long Service Medal |}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef | before = Rajesh Kumar}} {{s-ttl | title = Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command | years = 31 August 2021 - 30 September 2023}} {{s-aft | after = Suraj Berry}} |- {{s-bef | before = Ajendra Bahadur Singh}} {{s-ttl | title = Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command|years=June 2019 - August 2021}} {{s-aft | after = Krishna Swaminathan}} |- {{s-bef | before = S. V. Bhokare}} {{s-ttl | title = Commandant, Indian Naval Academy| years = February 2018 - June 2019}} {{s-aft | after = Dinesh K Tripathi}} |- {{s-bef | before = Ravneet Singh}} {{s-ttl | title = Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet | years = October 2016 - January 2018}} {{s-aft | after = M A Hampiholi}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pandit, R. B.}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Indian Navy vice admirals Category:Flag Officers Commanding Western Fleet Category:National Defence Academy (India) alumni Category:Commandants of the Indian Naval Academy Category:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Category:Naval attachés for India Category:Defence Services Staff College alumni Category:Naval War College, Goa alumni Category:Commanders-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command