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 Satish Namdeo Ghormade who took over from Vice Admiral G. Ashok Kumar on 31 July 2021. History Established on 11 May 1967, the office was first held by Sourendra Nath Kohli, subsequently appointed CNS. The appointment was then in the two-star rank of rear admiral. On 12 December 1967, Nilakanta Krishnan succeeded Kohli as VCNS, with the office being raised to the three-star rank of Vice-Admiral in March 1969. Organisation The VCNS heads the Staff Branch-I at the Naval Headquarters. The following Directors General/Controllers/Assistant Principal Staff Officers report into the VCNS. Chief Hydrographer Inspector General Nuclear Safety (IGNS) Controller Warship Production & Acquisition (CWP&A) Director General Project Seabird Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy & Plans) Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Staff Requirements) Principal Director Naval Plans (PDNP) Integrated Financial Advisor (Navy) Director General of Naval Armament (DGONA) Director General Naval Armament Inspectorate (DGNAI) Order of precedence The VCNS ranks at No. 23 on the Indian order of precedence, along with the Vice Chiefs of Staff of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force and the Army Commanders (GOC-in-C), Naval Commanders (FOC-in-C) and Air Commanders (AOC-in-C). The VCNS is at the Apex Pay grade (Grade 17), with a monthly pay of ₹225,000 (US$3,200). Appointees The following table chronicles the appointees to the office of the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. See also Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Chief of the Air Staff Vice Chief of the Army Staff Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff Notes ** Went on to become Chief of the Naval Staff. References Vice Chiefs of Naval Staff (India) Vice chiefs of staff Indian military appointments Indian Navy appointments