{{short description|Indian Navy Admiral}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = Vice Admiral | name = Tarun Sobti | honorific_suffix = UYSM, AVSM, VSM | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = File:Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, DCNS.jpg | image_size = 230px | alt = | caption = | birth_date = | death_date = | birth_place = | death_place = | burial_place = | burial_label = | burial_coordinates = | nickname = | birth_name = | allegiance = {{IND}} | branch = {{navy|India}} | service_years = July 1988 - present | rank = 20px 20px Vice Admiral | service_number = 03350-N<ref>{{cite web |title=President approves 127 Gallantry awards, 40 Distinguished Service awards & 290 Mention-in-Despatches on the eve of 79th Independence Day |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2156515 |website=pib.gov.in |access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref> | unit = | commands = Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff<br/>Project Seabird<br/>Eastern Fleet<br/>{{ship|INS|Kolkata|D63}}<br/>{{ship|INS|Kora|P61}}<br/>{{ship|INS|Nishank|K43}} | battles = | battles_label = | awards = 20px Ati Vishisht Seva Medal<br/>20px Vishisht Seva Medal | alma_mater = Indian Naval Academy | spouse = <!-- Add spouse if reliably sourced --> | relations = | other_work = | signature = | website = | memorials = | module = }} Vice Admiral '''Tarun Sobti''', UYSM, AVSM, VSM is a serving Flag officer in the Indian Navy. He currently serves as the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. He last served as the Director General Project Seabird. He earlier served as the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet and as the Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor at the Indian Naval Academy from March 2019 to January 2021.<ref name="seabird_241221">{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1784930|title=VICE ADMIRAL TARUN SOBTI, VSM ASSUMED CHARGE AS DIRECTOR GENERAL, PROJECT SEABIRD|publisher=PIN|date=2021-12-24}}</ref> He was the commissioning commanding Officer of the Kolkata-class guided missile destroyer {{ship|INS|Kolkata|D63}}.
==Early life and education== Sobti was born in an army family. His father was a general officer in the Indian Army, retiring as a Major General. His mother was a teacher and his elder brother also joined the Army, retiring in 2017.<ref name="IN website" />
Sobti attended the Delhi Public School, Mathura Road. After his schooling, he joined and graduated from the National Defence Academy, Pune in 1986. He was awarded the President's Gold Medal, for standing first in overall order of merit.<ref name="IN website">{{cite web |title=Director General Project Seabird {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/node/27588 |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref>
== Naval career == Sobti was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1988. He is a specialist in Navigation and direction. During the specialisation course, he stood first and was adjudged the Best all-round trainee. He attended the Collège Interarmées de Défense in Paris and the College of Naval Warfare (CNW) in Mumbai. During the Naval Higher Command Course at the CNW, he was awarded the CNS Gold Medal for Best Op Paper.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Ashish |title=TARUN SOBTI TAKES OVER THE COMMAND OF EASTERN FLEET |url=https://thedailyguardian.com/tarun-sobti-takes-over-the-command-of-eastern-fleet/ |website=The Daily Guardian |date=23 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="IN website" />
He has served as the navigating officer of the Khukri-class corvette {{ship|INS|Kirpan|P44}} and was part of the commissioning crew of the Delhi-class Guided missile destroyer {{ship|INS|Mysore|D60}} as its navigating officer. He later served as the direction officer of the aircraft carrier {{ship|INS|Viraat|R22}} and the executive officer of the guided missile destroyer {{ship|INS|Delhi|D61}}.<ref name="PIB bio">{{cite web |title=Rear Adm Tarun Sobti takes over as Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1700179 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>
Sobti has commanded the Veer-class missile vessel {{ship|INS|Nishank|K43}}, and the lead ship of the Kora-class corvette {{ship|INS|Kora|P61}}. In August 2014, the lead ship of the indigenously-built Kolkata-class Guided missile destroyers {{ship|INS|Kolkata|D63}} was commissioned by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai. Sobti was the commissioning Commanding Officer of the ship.<ref>{{cite web |title=h1 |url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2014/sep01-14/h1.htm |website=sainiksamachar.nic.in}}</ref>
Sobti, in his staff appointments, has served as the Joint Director of Staff Requirements and Joint Director of Personnel at Naval headquarters. He also served as the Captain Work-Up at Local Work-Up Team (East). The LWT (East) is under the operational control of Flag Officer Sea Training and administrative control of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command.{{sfn|Hiranandani|2001|p=299}} As a Commodore, he served as the Naval attaché at the Embassy of India in Moscow.<ref name="PIB bio" />
===Flag rank=== On promotion to Flag Rank, in March 2019, Sobti took over as the Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala.<ref name="Staff Reporter">{{cite web |author=Staff Reporter |title=New Dy. Commandant takes over at INA |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/new-dy-commandant-takes-over-at-ina/article33553360.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=12 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="Dy Comdt INA">{{cite web |title=Rear Admiral Tarun Sobti Assumes Charge as the Deputy Commandant, Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/rear-admiral-tarun-sobti-assumes-charge-deputy-commandant-indian-naval-academy-ezhimala |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gallery {{!}} INA |url=https://www.ina.gov.in/?q=Gallery |website=www.ina.gov.in}}</ref> After a 21 month stint as Deputy Commandant, he handed over to Rear Admiral A. N. Pramod in January 2021.<ref name="Staff Reporter"/> For this stint, Sobti was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 January 2020.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=IndEmbMoscow |url=https://twitter.com/IndEmbMoscow/status/1221164247608152066 |number=1221164247608152066 |title=Congratulations on behalf of Ambassador and @IndEmbMoscow... |access-date=2023-04-20 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Distinguished service and gallantry award winners on Republic day 2020 |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1600569 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref> On 23 February 2021, he assumed the office of the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, taking over from Rear Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan who commanded the fleet from 2020 to 2021.<ref name="Sanjay Vatsayan FOCEF - PIB">{{cite web |title=Rear Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan takes over as Eastern Fleet Commander |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1602734 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>
Under his command, the Eastern Fleet, executed Operation Samudra Setu II and Operation Sagar. These operations were aimed at the transfer of medical oxygen and provided humanitarian assistance to friendly foreign countries respectively. The fleet also participated in the maritime exercise Malabar 21 in Western Pacific off Guam.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla takes over as Eastern Fleet Commander {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/rear-admiral-sanjay-bhalla-takes-over-eastern-fleet-commander |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref> For his command of the Eastern fleet, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 January 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=PRESS RELEASE - DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS TO INDIAN NAVY PERSONNEL ON REPUBLIC DAY |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1792586 |website=www.pib.gov.in |access-date=26 January 2022}}</ref>
On promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral, on 24 December 2021, Sobti took over as the Director General Project Seabird, from Vice Admiral Puneet Kumar Bahl.<ref name="seabird_241221"/> He was succeeded by Vice Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar as the DG of the project.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-08-28 |title=Vice Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar takes over as DG of Project 'Seabird' |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/vice-admiral-rajesh-dhankhar-takes-over-as-dg-of-project-seabird/articleshow/112871309.cms |access-date=2024-08-29 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> On 1 October 2023, Sobti was appointed Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff and took over Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru who retired.<ref name="DCNS">{{cite web |title=VICE ADMIRAL TARUN SOBTI, AVSM, VSM ASSUMED CHARGE AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1962592 |website=pib.gov.in |access-date=1 October 2023}}</ref> He served as the DCNS during Operation Sindoor, for which he was awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal.<ref>{{cite web |title=President approves 127 Gallantry awards, 40 Distinguished Service awards & 290 Mention-in-Despatches on the eve of 79th Independence Day |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2156515 |website=pib.gov.in |access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref>
==Awards and decorations== {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Uttam_Yudh_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=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 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=75yearmedal.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;" |- |Uttam Yudh Seva Medal |Ati Vishisht Seva Medal |Vishisht Seva Medal |Samanya Seva Medal |- |Operation Vijay Medal |Sainya Seva Medal |75th Anniversary of Independence Medal |50th Anniversary of Independence Medal |- |30 Years Long Service Medal |colspan=2|20 Years Long Service Medal |9 Years Long Service Medal |}
==Personal life== Sobti is married to Shagun Sobti, a teacher. The couple have a daughter, Mallika.<ref name="IN website" />
==See also== * Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet * Eastern Fleet
==References== {{reflist}}
==Bibliography== * {{citation|first1=G.M.|last1=Hiranandani|title=Transition to Guardianship: The Indian Navy 1991-2000 |year=2001|isbn=9781935501268|publisher=Lancer Publishers}}
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef| before = Puneet Chadha}} {{s-ttl| title = Deputy Commandant Indian Naval Academy | years = 2019 - 2021}} {{s-aft| after= A. N. Pramod}} {{s-bef|before=Sanjay Vatsayan}} {{s-ttl|title=Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet|years=February 2021 - December 2021}} {{s-aft|after= Sanjay Bhalla}} {{s-bef|before=Puneet Kumar Bahl}} {{s-ttl|title=Director General Project Seabird|years=December 2021 - September 2023}} {{s-aft|after=Rajesh Dhankhar}} {{s-bef|before=Sanjay Mahindru}} {{s-ttl|title=Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff|years=October 2023 - Present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sobti, Tarun}} Category:Indian Navy vice admirals Category:Flag Officers Commanding Eastern Fleet Category:National Defence Academy (India) alumni Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Category:Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal Category:Naval attachés for India Category:Deputy Commandants of the Indian Naval Academy Category:Directors General Project Seabird