Admiral Jal Cursetji, PVSM
CNS, 29 Feb 1976 - 28 Feb 1979

Admiral Jal Cursetji assumed charge of the Indian Navy, as the 8th Chief of Naval Staff, on 28 February 1976. Born on 20 May 1919, he joined the Royal Indian Navy as a cadet in January 1938 and was commissioned in September 1940. He served on board various naval ships during the war and was in command of INS Bombay in 1944.

Specialising in hydrography, Admiral Cursetji commanded naval survey ships for a number of years. He was the Surveyor-in-Charge, Marine Survey of India from 1950-54 and in 1955, he became the first Indian Chief Hydrographer to the Government, an appointment he held for more than two years.

Admiral Cursetji's other important appointments were Naval Attaché in Washington and commanding aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. Promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral, in December 1967, he took over as the Chief of Personnel at Naval HQ. In February 1970 he was appointed as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) in the rank of Vice Admiral.

Admiral Cursetji was awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal on 26 January 1971 for distinguished service of the most exceptional order. Prior to his taking over as Chief of the Naval Staff, on 29 February 1976, he was the FOC-in-C of the Western Naval Command, a post he held since 27 February 1973.