The Chief of the Naval Staff (India), also known as the Navy Chief (abbreviated to CNS), is a statutory position in the Indian Armed Forces held by a four star admiral. As the highest ranking officer to serve solely in the Indian Navy, the chief is the operational head of the Indian Navy and the principal naval adviser to the Minister of Defence. The CNS, in a separate capacity, is also a member of the National Security Council and thereby an advisor to the president and the prime minister. The CNS is typically the most senior naval officer in the Indian Armed Forces as the military leader of the naval forces, unless the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee is a naval officer. The CNS heads the military staff of the Indian Navy and advises both the president of the Republic and the prime minister on naval affairs. The current CNS is Admiral R. Hari Kumar. The 25th Navy Chief, he took over from Karambir Singh, who retired on 30 November 2021 after four decades of service from the navy. From Wikipedia
