Admiral Madhvendra Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC was Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy between 29 December 2001 and his retirement from service on 31 July 2004. He had by that date completed over 41 years of service.[1] He was also the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee from 2002 to 2004[2]

Madhvendra Singh
17th Chief of the Naval Staff
In office
29 December 2001 – 31 July 2004
PresidentK. R. Narayanan
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee
Manmohan Singh
Preceded bySushil Kumar (admiral)
Succeeded byArun Prakash
Personal details
Awards Param Vishist Seva Medal
Ati Vishist Seva Medal
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Navy
Rank Admiral
CommandsChief of the Naval Staff
Western Naval Command
National Defence Academy
Western Fleet
INS Viraat
INS Ranvir
Battles/warsIndia-Pakistan War 1965
Bangladesh Liberation War
Operation Vijay 1999

Career

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Madhvendra Singh is a son of Major General K Bhagwati Singh and was educated at St. Xavier's School, Jaipur, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. His military career began in July 1958 when he joined the National Defence Academy, from which he moved to the Indian Navy in January 1963.[1]

He won various awards early in his naval career and chose to specialise in Gunnery, for which purpose he subsequently attended courses at the National Defence College in New Delhi, as well as abroad at institutions such as the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham, United Kingdom, the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, Tamil Nadu and the Naval War College at Newport, USA.[1] He was promoted to lieutenant-commander on 16 February 1973 and to commander on 1 July 1977.[3][4]

Aside from his numerous staff appointments, Singh commanded INS Viraat, INS Ranvir and INS Talwar, which are an aircraft carrier, a guided missile destroyer and a frigate, respectively. He also commanded the Naval Academy at Kochi.[1] He was promoted to captain on 1 July 1983,[5] and was promoted to rear admiral on 13 September 1990.[6]

Active service operations in which Singh was involved include the 1961 actions in Goa and in both the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistani wars. His later operations included the 1987 Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka and acting as commander of the Western Maritime Theatre during the Kargil War of 1999.[1]

Singh has been awarded both the Param Vishist Seva Medal and the Ati Vishist Seva Medal for his service.[1]

Family

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He is married to Kaumudi Kumari and has a daughter and a son.

Awards and decorations

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Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal General Service Medal Samar Seva Star
Paschimi Star Special Service Medal Operation Vijay Star Raksha Medal
Sangram Medal Operation Vijay Medal Videsh Seva Medal 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal
25th Anniversary of Independence Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Admiral Madhvendra Singh". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 17 May 2009.
  2. ^ "Navy chief to head COSC". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
  3. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India. 28 April 1973. p. 508.
  4. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India. 6 May 1978. p. 506.
  5. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India. 5 November 1983. p. 1625.
  6. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India. 12 June 1993. p. 1077.
Military offices
Preceded by Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
2002-2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of the Naval Staff
2001–2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by
P. J. Jacob
Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
2001–2001
Succeeded by
Preceded by
A. R. Tandon
Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet
1992-1994
Succeeded by
R N Ganesh
Preceded by
Vinod Pasricha
Commanding Officer INS Viraat
1988-1990
Succeeded by