Nirmal Kumar Verma

This article is about the Chief of the Indian Navy. For the Hindi author, see Nirmal Verma.

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.

Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma PVSM, AVSM
Admiral Verma as CNS 2009.
24th High Commissioner of India to Canada
In office November 2012 – November 2014
Appointed by	President of India (then, Pranab Mukherjee)
Preceded by	Shashishekhar M. Gavai
Succeeded by	Vishnu Prakash
51st Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
In office 30 July 2011 – 31 August 2012
President	Pratibha Patil Pranab Mukherjee
Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh
Preceded by	Pradeep Vasant Naik
Succeeded by	N. A. K. Browne
20th Chief of the Naval Staff (India)
In office 31 August 2009 – 31 August 2012
President	Pratibha Patil Pranab Mukherjee
Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh
Preceded by	Sureesh Mehta
Succeeded by	Devendra Kumar Joshi
Personal details
Born	(1950-11-14) 14 November 1950 (age 74)
Relations	Vice Admiral Bimal Verma (brother)
Alma mater	Royal Naval Staff College
Military service
Allegiance	India
Branch/service	Indian Navy
Years of service	1970 – 2012
Rank	Admiral
Commands	Chief of Naval Staff Eastern Naval Command INS Viraat INS Ranvir INS Udaygiri
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Operation Lal Dora
Award(s)	Param Vishist Seva Medal Ati Vishist Seva Medal Sangram Medal
Later work(s)	CNO, US Naval War College

Early life

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

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

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

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]