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Admiral
Devendra Kumar Joshi
PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM
DK Joshi official portrait.jpg
Official portrait, 2012
14th Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Assumed office
8 October 2017
President
Preceded by Jagdish Mukhi
21st Chief of the Naval Staff
In office
31 August 2012 – 26 February 2014
Appointed by Pranab Mukherjee
Preceded by Nirmal Kumar Verma
Succeeded by Robin K. Dhowan
Personal details
Born (1954-07-04) 4 July 1954 (age 71)
Almora, Uttarakhand, India
Residence Raj Niwas, Port Blair
Occupation Naval officer
Awards
  • Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Param Vishisht Seva Medal
  • Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
  • Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg Yudh Seva Medal
  • Nao Sena Medal ribbon.svg Nausena Medal
  • Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Vishisht Seva Medal
Military service
Allegiance  India
Branch/service  Indian Navy
Years of service 1974–2014
Rank IN Admiral Shoulder curl.png 14-Indian Navy-ADM.svg Admiral
Commands Western Naval Command
Andaman and Nicobar Command
Eastern Fleet
INS Viraat (R22)
INS Ranvir (D54)
INS Kuthar (P46)

Devendra Kumar Joshi (born July 4, 1954) is a former Admiral in the Indian Navy who now serves as the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Islands Development Agency, a group that works on improving the islands.

He became the 21st Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy on August 31, 2012. He was an expert in anti-submarine warfare. Admiral Joshi resigned from his post on February 26, 2014. He took responsibility for a number of accidents involving naval ships, becoming the first Indian Navy Chief to ever resign.

In 2020, he joined the Uttarakhand War Memorial as a patron to honor soldiers from his home state. He also donated the money he receives for his bravery awards to support the memorial.

Early Life and Education

Devendra Kumar Joshi was born in Almora, Uttarakhand, on July 4, 1954. His father, Hira Ballabh Joshi, was an officer in the Indian Forest Service. Because of his father's job, Devendra attended many different schools as a child.

He later studied at Hansraj College in Delhi. While there, he was selected to join the Indian Navy in 1972 and officially became an officer in 1974.

When asked why he chose the Navy, he said, "I think it was the lure of the seas, the pull of the unknown...we belong to the hills. Of the land, the hilly terrains, one had seen enough!" He was the first person in his family in seven generations to join the armed forces.

Career in the Indian Navy

100323-N-OX597-187 Indian navy Vice Adm. D. K. Joshi, right presents a wooden plaque
Indian Navy Vice Admiral D. K. Joshi (right) when he was the Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
Admiral DK Joshi CNS Desig being welcomed by Outgoing CNS Admiral Nirmal Verma for a ceremonial Parade at South Block, New Delhi
Admiral D. K. Joshi being welcomed by the outgoing Navy Chief, Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma, in New Delhi.

Joshi graduated from the Indian Naval Academy. He also studied at top military colleges in India and the United States, including the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Becoming Chief of Naval Staff

After a long and successful career, Joshi was promoted to be the 21st Chief of Naval Staff, the highest position in the Indian Navy. He started this job on August 31, 2012.

A Responsible Resignation

A. K. Antony at the Bi-annual Naval Commanders' Conference 2013 in New Delhi on May 14, 2013. The Defence Secretary, Shri Shashikant Sharma and the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral D.K. Joshi are also seen
Admiral D. K. Joshi (center) with Defence Minister A. K. Antony and Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma in 2013.

Admiral Joshi resigned on February 26, 2014, after a fire on the submarine INS Sindhuratna. He was known for being a strict leader who expected high standards. By resigning, many other naval officers felt he was living up to his own high standards of taking responsibility.

Leading the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

On October 8, 2017, Joshi became the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This territory is made up of 836 islands in the Bay of Bengal. He also serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Islands Development Agency (IDA).

Developing the Islands

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi reviewing the progress towards the holistic development of islands, in New Delhi on June 30, 2018 (1)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads a review meeting on June 30, 2018, with Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Vice-Chairman Admiral D. K. Joshi.

The IDA was created in 2017 to help plan and manage the development of India's islands. The agency works to improve the islands while protecting their unique natural environments.

One major project was the new terminal building at Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair, which opened in July 2023. This new terminal allows the airport to handle many more passengers and larger planes.

Major Development Projects

VSI Airport
The new terminal building at Veer Savarkar International Airport, which opened in July 2023.
VSI Airport1
Another view of the new airport terminal in Port Blair.

Two huge projects are planned for the islands:

  • Great Nicobar Island Development Project: This is a large project to build new infrastructure on Great Nicobar Island.
  • International Container Transshipment Port (ICTP): Also known as Galathea Bay Port, this will be a massive port for transferring cargo containers between large ships. It is being built at Galathea Bay, which has deep water perfect for a port. It was named India's 13th major port in September 2024, with the first part expected to open in 2028.

Awards and Recognition

Admiral Joshi has received many medals for his service to the nation.

Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg Nao Sena Medal ribbon.svg
Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg IND Paschimi Star Ribbon.svg IND Operation Vijay star.svg IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg
IND Operation Vijay medal.svg IND Operation Parakram medal.svg IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg
IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg
Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Yudh Seva Medal Nausena Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal Paschimi Star Operation Vijay Star Sangram Medal
Operation Vijay Medal Operation Parakram Medal Sainya 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
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