• The Indian Navy has declared 2024 as the ‘Year of Naval Civilians’.

• Naval civilian personnel constitute about a third of the Indian Navy’s total workforce and contribute significantly to its operational effectiveness across all domains. 

• Civilian personnel impact the overall performance of naval formations such as command headquarters, dockyards, material organisations, naval armament depots, naval armament inspectorates, training establishments and several other types of support units.

• A number of initiatives have been conceived and implemented in the past in order to enhance organisational efficiency and satisfaction levels amongst civilian personnel. 

• However, it is imperative that impetus be provided to their administration, training, welfare, etc so that they effectively contribute towards ensuring that the Indian Navy always remains a combat ready, credible, cohesive and future-proof force. 

• Declaring 2024 as a year dedicated to them is a step in this direction.

• It aims to improve administration, efficiency and well-being of naval civilians by addressing all  facets of civilian HR management in a time bound manner. 

• Major focus areas towards maximising administrative efficiency, digital initiatives, generic and specific training programmes and welfare activities have been identified for implementation in 2024.

Indian Navy

• The foundation of the modern Indian Navy was laid in the 17th century when the East India Company had established a maritime force, thereby graduating in time to the establishment of the Royal Indian Navy in 1934. 

• The Indian Navy is the key enabler and guarantor of the country’s maritime sovereignty and myriad use-of-the-sea activities. This is discharged by the Navy through its four roles – military, diplomatic, constabulary and benign. 

• The objective of the Navy’s military role is deterrence/ dissuasion against any intervention or act which is against our national interests, and the ability to inflict a crushing defeat on the adversary in the event of hostilities. 

• A major objective of the Navy’s constabulary role is to ensure coastal and offshore security and implement anti-piracy measures in conjunction with the Coast Guard and other central and state agencies.

• The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) exercises operational and administrative control of the Indian Navy from the Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Navy). He is assisted by the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) and three other Principal Staff Officers, namely the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS), the Chief of Personnel (COP) and the Chief of Material (COM).

The Navy has three Commands, each under the control of a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief:

1) The Western Naval Command (Headquarters at Mumbai).

2) The Eastern Naval Command (Headquarters at Visakhapatnam)

3) The Southern Naval Command (Headquarters at Kochi).

• The Western and the Eastern Naval Commands are ‘Operational Commands’, and exercise control over operations in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal respectively. The Southern Command is the Training Command.

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