Alok Ananda

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Wikipedia

Rear Admiral

Alok Ananda

YSM
Allegiance India
Branch Indian Navy
Service years1993 – present
Rank Rear Admiral
CommandsEastern Fleet
INS Satpura (F48)
INS Ghorpad (L14)
Awards Yudh Seva Medal
Alma materIndian Naval Academy

Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, YSM is a serving Flag officer in the Indian Navy. He currently serves as the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.

Ananda attended the Naval Academy, Goa and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1993. He completed his Midshipman training onboard the aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R22), where he was awarded the Gold Medal for his outstanding performance. He specialised in Navigation and Direction and served as the Navigation officer of four warships. His first command was the Kumbhir-class tank landing ship INS Ghorpad (L14). During his tenure, Ghorpad was awarded the Best Landing Ship trophy. He also served as an instructor at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla.[1]

Ananda attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington where he was awarded the Scudder Medal for standing first overall in the staff course. He subsequently served as the Joint Director (Naval Plans) at naval headquarters. Back at sea, he served as the executive officer of the Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvijay (D55). During this tenure, "Ranvijay" was awarded the Best Ship Trophy. He served as an instructor at his alma maters, the Navigation and Direction school at Kochi and the DSSC.[2]

As a Captain, Ananda served as Captain (Naval Operations) at NHQ. During his tenure as Captain (Naval Operations), he oversaw the successful conduct of Operation Raahat in Yemen. On 26 January 2016, he was awarded the Yudh Seva Medal.[3] He then attended the National Defence College of Thailand where he was awarded prize for the Best Research Paper. Ananda subsequently served as Captain (Strategy, Concepts and Transformation), also at NHQ. In the rank of Commodore, he also served as Commodore (Naval Operations) at NHQ.[1]

In 2018, Ananda took command of the Shivalik-class multi-role frigate INS Satpura (F48). In September 2018, Commander Abhilash Tomy suffered an accident while participating in the 2018 Golden Globe Race. He was caught in a violent storm in the Southern Indian Ocean where his yacht Thuriya was dismasted and he suffered a severe injury to his spine. A multinational rescue effort was launched. Satpura was on an operational deployment and was diverted for the search and rescue mission (SAR) christened Operation Raksham. Ananda had just received the news of his father's passing and chose not to go home for the rituals and proceeded with the SAR mission. Satpura, after fuelling from the fleet tanker INS Jyoti which was also despatched for the mission, arrived off Ile Amsterdam and safely evacuated Tomy using the ship’s helicopter on 28 September. The ship brought Tomy safely to Visakhapatnam on 6 October.[4][5] During Ananda's command tenure, Satpura was adjudged the Best Ship of the Eastern Fleet for its exceptional performance and high operational tempo.[6]

Flag rank

Ananda was promoted to flag rank in November 2023 and appointed Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Plans and Policy) at NHQ.[7] On 17 October 2025, he took command of the Eastern Fleet as the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet from Rear Admiral Susheel Menon.[8]

Awards and decorations

Ananda was awarded the Chief of the Naval Staff commendation card and the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command commendation card, apart from the Yudh Seva Medal in 2016.[1]

Yudh Seva Medal Samanya Seva Medal Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal
75th Independence Anniversary Medal 50th Independence Anniversary Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal
20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About the Speaker". maritimeindia.org. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  2. ↑ Service, Express News (18 October 2025). "Rear Admiral Ananda heads Eastern Fleet of Indian Navy". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "365 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "Commander Abhilash Tomy rescued by French vessel, INS Satpura to take him to Mauritius for check-up". The Indian Express. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "Cdr Abhilash Tomy, KC reaches Visakhapatnam safely". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "INS Satpura wins 'Best Ship' trophy". The Times of India. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  7. ↑ "Rear Admiral Alok Ananda new new flag officer of eastern fleet". The Times of India. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "The Eastern Sword". x.com. Retrieved 21 October 2025.