Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, visited the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam from 05 to 07 July 2026 to review operational preparedness and capability development initiatives of the Command.
During the visit, Vice Admiral Sobti interacted with personnel onboard INS Agray, INS Dunagiri and INS Mysore. His interaction with naval personnel formed part of the broader review of the Command’s operational readiness and its preparedness to meet evolving maritime security requirements.
The Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff also reviewed ongoing shipbuilding, refit and infrastructure projects at Hindustan Shipyard Limited. The review highlighted the Indian Navy’s continued focus on strengthening indigenous capability development and ensuring timely progress of critical naval projects.
As part of the visit, Vice Admiral Sobti also interacted with Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command. The engagement reflected the importance of coordinated leadership and sustained operational focus in one of the Navy’s key maritime commands.

Vice Admiral Sobti also addressed and interacted with officers of the Command on specific aspects of Indian Navy Vision 2047, Indian Maritime Doctrine and the Indian Navy Maritime Security Strategy. The interaction provided an opportunity to discuss the Navy’s long-term vision, doctrinal priorities and strategic approach towards maritime security.
The visit reaffirmed the Indian Navy’s unwavering commitment to combat readiness, maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region and indigenous capability development under the aegis of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The Eastern Naval Command continues to play a vital role in safeguarding India’s maritime interests and supporting the Navy’s operational objectives in the region. Vice Admiral Sobti’s visit underlined the emphasis on preparedness, modernisation and self-reliance as key pillars of the Indian Navy’s future-ready approach.
