YMAM Desk
New Delhi, August 1, 2025:
Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, AVSM, NM, assumed charge as the 47th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) today. On taking over the new responsibility, he paid solemn homage to the Bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the nation by laying a floral wreath at the National War Memorial, New Delhi.
Distinguished Naval Career and Key Appointments
An alumnus of the 71st course National Defence Academy, Pune, Vatsayan was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 1, 1988. As a specialist in Gunnery and Missile Systems, he has served onboard various frontline warships, including as part of the commissioning crew of INS Mysore, INS Nishank, and as pre-commissioning crew for ICGS Sangram. He also served as Executive Officer of INS Mysore and commanded several vessels including Coast Guard ship C-05, missile vessels INS Vibhuti and INS Nashak, missile corvette INS Kuthar, and the guided missile frigate INS Sahyadri as commissioning commanding officer.
In February 2020, Vatsayan took over as Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, leading numerous operational deployments and exercises during a period of heightened maritime activity.
Academic Achievements and Strategic Roles
A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington; Naval War College, Goa; and National Defence College, New Delhi, he has also served in key strategic and policy-oriented roles at Naval Headquarters, including Joint Director and Director of Personnel (Policy), Director Naval Plans (Perspective Planning), and Principal Director Naval Plans.
On promotion to Flag Rank in February 2018, he served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) before commanding the Eastern Fleet. For his exceptional leadership and meritorious service, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021.
He also served as Deputy Commandant of the National Defence Academy and later as Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command, where he steered operational readiness, personnel development, and infrastructure augmentation.
Prior to becoming VCNS, Vatsayan was Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) and thereafter DCIDS (Policy, Plans and Force Development) at HQ IDS, making key contributions to operations, integration, and policies promoting indigenisation across the services.
Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan is married to Sarita, and they have two children—a son, an Economics graduate with an MBA from Indian School of Business, and a daughter who has graduated in Humanities.