Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command
The Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command is the head of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the first and only Tri-service theater command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory of India.
The current CINCAN is Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar who took command on 1 October 2025 as the 19th CINCAN.
History
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands became a Union territory of India in 1956. The first military unit on the islands was the naval base INS Jarawa, which was commissioned in 1964. The base was commanded by a Resident Naval Officer. After establishing subsequent garrisons in the islands, the post was upgraded to Naval Officer-in-Charge Andaman & Nicobar. The naval establishments were under the command of the Eastern Naval Command during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. In October 1976, the operational control of all forces in the islands was given, and the post was upgraded to Commodore, Andaman & Nicobar. Shortly afterwards, all establishments came under the newly created Fortress Andaman & Nicobar to signify jointness. The appointment was redesignated to Fortress Commander, [Andaman and Nicobar Islands]. In 1978, INS Kardip was commissioned as a Forward operating base.In March 1981, FORTAN was upgraded to a Two star appointment tenanted by a Rear Admiral. In 1987, the post was further upgraded to a three star appointment. In 1998, a 'Far East Naval Command' was proposed, to be commanded by a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Far East Naval Command.
With the operationalisation of the A & N Command as a unified theatre command in October 2001, Vice Admiral Arun Prakash, took over as the First Commander-in-Chief of the unified command.