New Delhi:
Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi, an anti-submarine warfare specialist, on Friday took over as the Indian Navy chief.
He succeeds Admiral Nirmal Verma, who retired after 43 years of service.
Joshi is the 21st chief of naval staff of independent India and the 19th Indian to take command of the world's sixth largest naval force.
In the morning, he paid tribute to the country's martyrs by laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate and inspected a guard of honour on the lawns of South Block, the seat of the naval headquarters on Raisina Hill.
Later, in the office of the navy chief, Admiral Verma ceremonially handed over the chief's telescope to Admiral Joshi to mark the handing over of office from the incumbent to the successor.