Vice Admiral SV Bhokare assumes office as the Commandant of Indian Naval Academy

Vice Admiral S V Bhokare on 20 October 2016 assumed office as the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala in Kerala.

With this, Bhokare became the first officer from the submarine arm of the Indian Navy to take over the charge of the Indian Naval Academy.

Who is Vice Admiral Bhokare?

• Vice Admiral Bhokare is a specialist in navigation and direction.

• He graduated from the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington in Tamil Nadu.

• He attended the Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow.

• He also holds a Master's degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from Australian Defence College, Canberra.

• In his career spanning 32 years, he has commanded three frontline submarines, INS Sindhughosh, INS Sindhudhvaj and INS Sindhushastra, as well as guided missile frigate INS Beas and submarine base INS Vajrabahu.

About Indian Naval Academy

• The Indian Naval Academy is the initial officer training establishment of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard, located in Ezhimala, Kerala.

• It is situated between Mount Dilli and the Kavvayi backwaters.

• It has a 7 km beach front on the Arabian Sea.

• It conducts basic training for all officers inducted into the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.

• It is the largest naval academy in Asia.

• The Naval Academy was established in May 1969, while its Ezhimala campus was inaugurated on 8 January 2009 and the name was changed to Indian Naval Academy.