Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar assumed charge as 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff

Exam-focused facts from the 31 May 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar assumed charge as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) of the Indian Navy.
He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1988, and is a specialist in Gunnery and Missile Systems.
He has commanded the Indian Naval Ships (INS) Nashak, Vibhuti, Kirpan, Trikand, and the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
He previously served as the Commandant of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command, and Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026.