| Vice Admiral वाइस एडमिरल | |
|---|---|
 Flag of a Vice admiral | |
 _OF-8.svg)   Rank insignia of a Vice Admiral and Surgeon Vice Admiral | |
 Vehicle star plate of a Vice Admiral | |
| Country |  India |
| Service branch |  Indian Navy |
| Abbreviation | VAdm/ Surg VAdm |
| Rank group | Flag officer |
| Rank | Three-star rank |
| NATOrank code | OF 8 |
| Pay grade | Pay level 15,16,17 |
| Next higher rank | Admiral |
| Next lower rank | Rear admiral |
| Equivalent ranks | Lieutenant general (Indian Army) Air marshal (Indian Air Force) |
Vice admiral is athree-starflag officer rank in theIndian Navy. It is the second-highest active rank in the Indian Navy. Vice admiral ranks above thetwo-star rank ofrear admiral and below thefour-star rank ofadmiral, which is held by theChief of the Naval Staff (CNS).
The equivalent rank in theIndian Army islieutenant general and in theIndian Air Force isair marshal. Officers in the rank of vice admiral hold important appointments at the naval commands and at the naval headquarters.
AdmiralRam Dass Katari was the first Indian to be promoted to the rank of Vice admiral. On 22 April 1958, he took over as the first IndianChief of the Naval Staff (CNS) and promoted to the substantive rank ofVice Admiral.[1]
From 1948 to 1968, the appointment of CNS, the professional head of theIndian Navy was held by a vice admiral. The position of the CNS was upgraded from vice admiral toadmiral in 1968. The first officer to hold the rank was AdmiralAdhar Kumar Chatterji who was promoted to the rank while he served as the CNS.[2]
Senior vice admirals who are in the C-in-C grade (naval commanders), are considered to be in a grade higher than other vice admirals. They hold the senior-most appointments like theVice Chief of the Naval Staff and the heads of the three naval commands (styled "flag officer commanding-in-chief"). The three FOC-in-C appointments are:
At naval headquarters, the principal staff officers (PSO) are senior vice admirals. The Directors General and Controllers are also officers of the rank of vice admiral. The chiefs of staff of the Western Naval Command and the Eastern Naval Command are also vice admirals.
Surgeon Vice Admirals in the Indian Navy serve mainly as Director General Medical Services (Navy), the highest rankingmedical officer of the Navy, and they may also be appointed asDirector General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) when the post rotates to the Navy, they can also hold senior roles like Command Medical Officer in major commands or high-level tri-service medical staff appointments.
The flag of a vice admiral has a gold-blue octagon bearing naval crest in the middle, and three blue stars placed vertically at hoist side.
The badges of rank have a crossed sword and baton over three eight-pointed stars and theAshoka emblem above, on a golden shoulder board. A vice admiral wearsgorget patches which are golden patches with three white stars. Naval commanders in the C-in-C grade have additional oak leaves under the three white stars. In addition to this, the double-breastedreefer jacket has three golden sleeve stripes consisting of a broad band with two narrower bands.
A vice admiral in the C-in-C grade ranks at No. 23 on theIndian order of precedence, along with lieutenant generals of theIndian Army and air marshals of theIndian Air Force in the C-in-C grade. The other vice admirals rank at No. 24 in the order of precedence.[3]
Vice admirals in the C-in-C grade are at the apex pay scale (pay level 17), with a monthly pay of ₹225,000 (US$3,100). Other vice admirals, in the HAG+ pay scale (pay level 16) draw lesser, depending on the years in service. However, since they should not draw equivalent or more than the next higher level, the remuneration is capped at ₹224,000.[4][5]
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