Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)
| Vice Chief of the Naval Staff | |
|---|---|
Flag of the Vice Admiral | |
since 1 August 2025 | |
| Indian Navy | |
| Type | Principal Staff Officer |
| Status | Vice Chief |
| Abbreviation | VCNS |
| Reports to | Chief of the Naval Staff |
| Seat | Naval Headquarters, New Delhi |
| Formation | 11 May 1967 |
| First holder | Sourendra Nath Kohli |
The Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) is a statutory position in the Indian Armed Forces, that is usually held by a three star vice admiral. The Vice Chief is the deputy of the Chief of the Naval Staff and is usually the second highest ranking officer of the Indian Navy. The current VCNS is Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan who took over from Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan on 1 August 2025.