Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma (born 14 November 1950)[1] is a former senior naval officer who served as the Chief of the Naval Staff of Indian Navy, from 31 August 2009 to 31 August 2012. In November 2012, he was appointed the High Commissioner to Canada.

Nirmal Kumar Verma
Admiral Verma as CNS 2009.
24th High Commissioner of India to Canada
In office
November 2012 – November 2014
Appointed byPresident of India (then, Pranab Mukherjee)
Preceded byShashishekhar M. Gavai
Succeeded byVishnu Prakash
51st Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
In office
30 July 2011 – 31 August 2012
PresidentPratibha Patil
Pranab Mukherjee
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded byPradeep Vasant Naik
Succeeded byN. A. K. Browne
20th Chief of the Naval Staff (India)
In office
31 August 2009 – 31 August 2012
PresidentPratibha Patil
Pranab Mukherjee
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded bySureesh Mehta
Succeeded byDevendra Kumar Joshi
Personal details
Born (1950-11-14) 14 November 1950 (age 73)
RelationsVice Admiral Bimal Verma (brother)
Alma materRoyal Naval Staff College
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Navy
Years of service1970 – 2012
Rank Admiral
CommandsChief of Naval Staff
Eastern Naval Command
INS Viraat
INS Ranvir
INS Udaygiri
Battles/warsIndo-Pakistani War of 1971
Operation Lal Dora
Award(s)
Later work(s)CNO, US Naval War College

Early life

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Born on 14 November 1950, he joined the Indian Navy at the age of 19.[2] He studied at Goethals Memorial School Kurseong, Royal Naval Staff College in the United Kingdom, and the Naval War College in 1993 in the United States.[3]

Military career

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Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead, right, and Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy Adm. Nirmal Verma, middle left, tour various aircraft and facilities at Naval Air Station Paxtuxent River

Verma took charge of the Naval Academy in Goa, and subsequently became commander of a series of Indian Navy ships, including INS Ranvir (D54) and INS Viraat, at that time India's only aircraft carrier. He then took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Eastern Naval Command, and was appointed Chief of the Indian Navy upon the retirement of Sureesh Mehta on 31 August 2009. During his career he has been awarded several decorations, including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.[4] He took over as the Chairman, Chief's of Staff Committee on 30 July 2011 from the then outgoing Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal P V Naik.[5]

Awards

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Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Poorvi Star Paschimi Star
Special Service Medal Sangram Medal Operation Parakram 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

Post Retirement

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Adm Verma was appointed High Commissioner of India to Canada in 2012.[6] He is currently a CNO Distinguished International Fellow at the US Naval War College.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Nirmal Kumar Verma named Navy chief". NDTV.com. Press Trust of India. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Nirmal Kumar Verma named Navy chief". Ndtv.com. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  3. ^ hameed farista (3 December 2009). "Govt names Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma as the next Navy chief". Indian Express. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  4. ^ "Vice Admiral NK Verma named next Navy Chief". Zeenews.com. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Admiral Nirmal Verma takes over as Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee". India strategic. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma appointed as High Commissioner of India to Canada".
  7. ^ "160922-N-RX668-008". Flickr. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
Military offices
Preceded by Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
2011 - 2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of the Naval Staff
2009–2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command
2008-2009
Succeeded by
Anup Singh
Preceded by
R. C. Kochhar
Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area
2002-2003
Succeeded by
M. P. Taneja
Preceded by Commanding Officer INS Viraat
1996-1997
Succeeded by
S. K. Damle