Devendra Kumar Joshi

Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (born 4 July 1954) is the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Vice Chairman of Islands Development Agency (IDA).[1][2] He was an Admiral in the Indian Navy and served as the 21st Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, having assumed office on 31 August 2012. He is a specialist in anti-submarine warfare. He resigned on 26 February 2014,[3] taking responsibility for a series of accidents, thus becoming the first Indian Navy Chief to resign.[4][5]

Admiral
Devendra Kumar Joshi
PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM
14th Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Assumed office
8 October 2017
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded byJagdish Mukhi
21st Chief of the Naval Staff
In office
31 August 2012 – 26 February 2014
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded byNirmal Kumar Verma
Succeeded byRobin K. Dhowan
Personal details
Born
Devendra Kumar Joshi

(1954-07-04) 4 July 1954
Almora, Uttarakhand, India
Awards
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Navy
Years of service1974–2014
Rank Admiral
CommandsWestern Naval Command
Andaman and Nicobar Command
Eastern Fleet
INS Viraat
INS Ranvir
INS Kuthar

Admiral Joshi has joined the Uttarakhand War Memorial as one of its patron in May 2020.[6] Subsequently, paying homage to brave sons/daughters of Uttarakhand in security of the nation and furthering the cause of the Uttarakhand War Memorial Trust, he has also contributed all his current and future annuities (for gallantry awards/decorations) towards the trust in July, 2020.[7][8]

Early life

Devendra Kumar Joshi was born to Hira Ballabh Joshi, an Indian Forest Service Officer and Hansa Joshi on July 4, 1954. After completing his early education in various schools wherever his father was posted, he moved to Hansraj College of the University of Delhi. While studying in Delhi, he was selected into the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy in January 1972 and was subsequently commissioned in 1974.

In an interview with Doordarshan, when asked why he had chosen to join the Navy, he replied, "I think it was the lure of the seas, the pull of the unknown...we belong to the hills. Of the land, the hilly terrains, one had seen enough!" As he also said in the same interview, "from both my father's side and my mother's side, for seven generations nobody had been in the Services. Therefore, they [my parents] had not even thought of the Armed Forces as a career option for me. However, once I had made up my mind, they were fully supportive".[9]

Military career
  • The CNS, Admiral D.K. Joshi inspecting the Guard of Honour at the DG NCC Republic Day Parade camp-2013
  • The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee releasing a commemorative postage stamp, at the Navy Day Reception, hosted by the CNS, Admiral D.K. Joshi, at Navy House

D K Joshi graduated from the Indian Naval Academy and was commissioned into the executive branch of the Indian Navy on April 1, 1974. He is also an alumnus of the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, the College of Naval Warfare, Goa, and the National Defence College, New Delhi.

D K Joshi has served in a variety of command, staff and instructional appointments. His commands at sea include guided missile corvette INS Kuthar, guided missile destroyer INS Ranvir and the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, during which he was awarded Nausena Medal, Vishist Seva Medal and Yudh Seva Medal respectively. He subsequently commanded the Eastern Fleet, wherein he was awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM). Admiral D. K. Joshi has also been Senior Instructor (Navy) at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He was the Defence Advisor in the Indian High Commission at Singapore from 1996 to 1999,[10] with concurrent accreditation to the Philippines.

Flag Rank
  • Admiral DK Joshi with Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano at New Delhi
  • Admiral DK Joshi awarding the Presidents Gold Medal to Squadron Cadet Captain Kiran T Anil

After his elevation to Flag rank, Joshi served in the Integrated Headquarters in all nodal branches. He served in the Personnel Branch as the Assistant Chief of Personnel (Human Resource Development), in Warship Production and Acquisition as the Assistant Controller of the Aircraft Carrier Programme (ACACP), and thereafter in the Operations Branch both as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Information Warfare and Operations) and as the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff.

Before taking over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command in 2011, he contributed towards inter-services integration, first as the Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command, the only Tri-service integrated command. He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal during this time. Later, he served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC).

Chief of Naval Staff
  • Admiral DK Joshi receiving Vice Admiral Thura Thet Swe at South Block
  • The CNS Admiral D.K. Joshi addressing a press conference, in New Delhi
  • Tri Service Chiefs paying homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate on the occasion of Navy Day in New Delhi

Subsequently, Joshi was elevated as the 21st Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, having assumed office on 31 August 2012.[11][12]

Admiral Joshi resigned following a fire aboard Kilo-class submarine INS Sindhuratna on 26 February 2014.[4] The Times of India wrote that Admiral D. K. Joshi, who was to serve as the Navy Chief till August 2015, "was a hard taskmaster who always ran tight ships. He was unforgiving as a commanding officer wherever he served, tightening screws wherever he went." Many naval officers felt that he had lived up to his own exacting standards by resigning.[13]

Islands Development Agency
  • Shri Narendra Modi Hon. PM reviewing the progress towards the holistic development of islands, in New Delhi

The Islands Development Agency (IDA) was constituted on 1 June 2017 under the Chairmanship of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, and Admiral D. K. Joshi was designated as its Vice-Chairman, following the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's review meeting on the development of Indian Islands Territories. The major mandate of the Islands Development Agency includes guiding the policies, programmes and formulation of Integrated Master Plans for Comprehensive Development of the Islands. Islands Development Agency, with support of the NITI Aayog, is undertaking the holistic development of the Islands territories of India, while giving due consideration to their unique maritime and territorial bio-diversity.

  • Admiral D K Joshi, Hon. LG & Vice Chairman, IDA, A&N Islands with Shri Amit Shah, Hon. Union Home Minister and Minister of Co-operation at National Memorial Cellular Jail, Port Blair

The first IDA Meeting held on 24 July 2017. IDA has so far met six times since its constitution, with the fourth review meeting held on 30 June 2018, being Chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India himself. With the re-constitution of Islands Development Agency, the Government of India has been fast-tracking the holistic development its Islands territories.[14][15]

Amongst various Strategic Projects steered & completed through IDA, Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the bridge on Humphrey Strait Creek, named as “Azad Hind Fauz Setu”, on 16th Oct 2021.[16] It is the longest bridge in A&N Islands with 1.18 km length. The second bridge on Middle Strait creek is also expected to be operational within 2022 and alongwith completion of upgradation / double laning of Andaman Trunk Road , now designated NH4[17] will reduce traveling time to less than half , compared to around 12 hours previously , between Port Blair to Diglipur , at 310 km the longest stretch of continuous road in A&N Islands.

  • Admiral D K Joshi, Hon. LG & Vice Chairman, IDA, A&N Islands presenting memento to Shri Amit Shah, Hon. Union Home Minister and Minister of Co-operation at Raj Niwas

A decision to prepare detailed plan separately for development of two big islands i.e. Little Andaman & Great Nicobar Island (GNI) was taken during the 6th IDA meeting.[18] Accordingly, Plans for Holistic Development of the strategically located Great Nicobar Island in A&N Islands are proceeding apace with the aim to develop a new Greenfield city with a diverse and robust economy based on Maritime services and tourism. Apart from a Greenfield International Airport for which LiDar survey [19] has already been completed in Dec 2020, International Container Transshipment Terminal,[20][21] Township and Development, Gas-cum-Solar Power-Plants, Employment and Tourism are the major components of these projects for which EIA and Environmental, CRZ & Forest clearance is currently in progress with a Public hearing already having been conducted in Jan 2022.[22][23][24][25]

  • Admiral D K Joshi, Hon. LG & Vice Chairman, IDA, A&N Islands with Shri Amit Shah, Hon. Union Home Minister and Minister of Co-operation at Raj Niwas

Hitherto, the entire power generation in A&N having been by DGs, a focused thrust has been given to De-Dieselization and migration to clean and renewable power sources. 50 MW LNG Power Plant in Hope Town, Port Blair,[26] Solar Power Plants by NTPC at Garacharma and NLC at Dollygunj, in addition to 15 MWhr Battery Energy Storage System by JICA[27][28][29][30] are being expedited. To augument these measures, replacement of diesel vehicle fleet by electric vehicles[31] inclusive of Cars,[32] Mini Buses[33] and Buses[34] is also being prioritized, with the view to reducing dependency on fossil fuels.

Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
  • Admiral D K Joshi Hon,ble Lt. Governor & Vice Chairman, IDA, A&N Islands
  • Admiral D K Joshi, Hon. LG & Vice Chairman, IDA, A&N Islands interacting with Shri Narendra Modi, Hon. PM at Raj Niwas

Admiral D K Joshi took oath on 8 October 2017 as the thirteenth Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a territory which is the largest archipelago system in the Bay of Bengal, composed of 836 islands, islets and rocks.[35][36] He concurrently remains designated as Vice-Chairman Islands Development Agency also.

  • Admiral D K Joshi, Hon. LG & Vice Chairman, IDA, A&N Islands calling on Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Hon. President of India at New Delhi
  • Admiral D K Joshi, Hon. LG & Vice Chairman, IDA, A&N Islands with Shri Amit Shah, Hon. Union Home Minister and Minister of Co-operation at Raj Niwas

Of the several transformational infrastructure projects already commissioned in the last 3-4 years, the undersea Optical Fibre Cable (OFC)[37][38] connecting A&N Islands to Chennai and thereafter from Port Blair to 7 outer most islands[39] was executed in record time. Hon. PM Sh. Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone [40] for this on 30th Dec 2018 and in less than 2 years inaugurated the same through VC on 10th August 2020 stating that the “laying of the 2300 Kms submarine cable and completing it before the set target is very praise worthy”.[41][42]

  • Hon. President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind & Smt Savita Kovind,First Lady of India exchanging mementos with Admiral D K Joshi, Hon. LG & Vice Chairman, IDA, A&N Islands and Smt Chitra Joshi, First Lady of the Islands during their visit to A&N Islands
  • Admiral D K Joshi, Hon. LG & Vice Chairman, IDA A&N Islands & Smt Chitra Joshi, First Lady of the Islands welcoming Shri Narendra Modi, Hon. PM at Raj Niwas, Port Blair

Even as the world class new Airport Terminal at Port Blair is slated for commissioning in June 2022,[43] to cater for future growth in air traffic, the plans for a new Greenfield airport for which LiDar survey [44] has already been completed in Dec 2021, are being expedited.

  • Admiral D K Joshi, Hon. LG & Vice Chairman, IDA, A&N Islands extending a very warm send off to Hon. Vice President of India Shri M Venkaiah Naidu Ji at Veer Savarkar Airport

There being no significant lake or river systems in A&N, water supply was mainly dependent on rain water catchment in reservoirs constructed earlier for the purpose. During years, when the monsoons were weak, critical shortage of water was experienced. Accordingly, Rain Water Harvesting has been made mandatory in all new construction buildings, both in municipal areas as also rest of the islands, through enactment of suitable by-laws. Focused thrust is being given to erection of captive rain water storages,[45] towards which about 1528000 litres captive capacity has been created in Raj Niwas. Valued at Rs. 3,89,640.00 as per current municipal water supply cost, this stored capacity, topped up whenever it rains, would cater to the entire water requirements of Raj Niwas complex[46] and also be capable to augment supply to municipal areas in times of shortage.

Awards
Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Yudh Seva Medal Nausena Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal Paschimi Star Operation Vijay Star Sangram Medal
Operation Vijay Medal Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal
25th Anniversary of Independence Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Personal life

He is married to Chitra Joshi and the couple has two daughters.

References
  1. "New governors appointed: All you need to know". The Times of India. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  2. "Who is Devendra Kumar Joshi?". Indian Express. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  3. "'Vested Interests Have Stalled Reforms,' Former Navy Chief Admiral DK Joshi Tells".
  4. "DK Joshi resigns".
  5. "Chief of Naval Staff Admiral DK Joshi Resigns". PIB. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  6. Post, Garhwal. "Admiral Joshi joins U'khand War Memorial as Patron | Garhwal Post". Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  7. "Adm DK Joshi donates award money to Uttarakhand war memorial". news.rediff.com. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  8. Pioneer, The. "Admiral Joshi donates award money to War Memorial". The Pioneer. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  9. "Bridging the Gap: An Interaction with Naval Chief - Admiral D. K. Joshi (Doordarshan, 2013) on YouTube
  10. "Press Release:Indian Navy".
  11. "Admiral D K Joshi, 21st Chief Of Naval Staff of Indian Navy".
  12. "Lt Governor of A&N Islands".
  13. "Admiral DK Joshi ran 'tight ships', was hard taskmaster | India News - Times of India".
  14. "Union Home Minister chairs first meeting of Island Development Agency (IDA). IDA focuses on Holistic Development of Islands".
  15. "Shri Amit Shah chairs Meeting of the Island Development Agency focusing on 'Green Development in the Islands to reach a new Height'".
  16. "Union Home Minister, Amit Shah Inaugurates Humphrey Strait Bridge, Names it 'Azad Hind Fauz Setu'". ANDAMAN CHRONICLE. 18 October 2021.
  17. "Andaman & Nicobar Island Connectivity Programme". PIB GoI. 13 April 2022.
  18. "Shri Amit Shah chairs Meeting of the Island Development Agency focusing on 'Green Development in the Islands to reach a new Height". PIB.
  19. "Development of Airport in Great Nicobar Island (GNI)- A&N (UT)-Topography and OLS Survey by Aerial LiDAR" (PDF). AAI.
  20. "India-Japan collaborations: Andaman and Nicobar Islands in focus". ORF.
  21. "The Merits of a Transhipment Port at Great Nicobar: A Brief Assessment". ANDAMAN CHRONICLE. 18 August 2020.
  22. "India plans Rs 10 000 cr transshipment port at Great Nicobar Island PM". THE WEEK MAGAZINE. 10 August 2020.
  23. "NITI Aayog's Project for Great Nicobar Island". IJPIEL. 5 August 2021.
  24. "Explained: The controversial project to 'develop' the Great Nicobar Islands; public hearing on Jan 27". GaonConnection. 24 January 2022.
  25. "Govt vision for Great Nicobar includes airport & township, some experts think it's 'nonsense'". ThePrint. 30 January 2022.
  26. "Prime Minister lays foundation stone of 50 MW LNG-based power project in Andaman". The Economic Times.
  27. "Japan extends aid for Andaman infrastructure project to bolster Indo-Pacific partnership". The Economic Times.
  28. "JICA delegation meets Lt. Governor, A&N Islands". The Daily Telegrams.
  29. "JICA signs grant agreement of 4 billion Yen for power in Andaman islands". Deccan Herald.
  30. "India-Japan collaborations: Andaman and Nicobar Islands in focus". ORF.
  31. "This Startup Is Introducing Electric Bikes In Andaman And Nicobar". Inc42.
  32. "Towards environment friendly transport" (PDF). Daily Telegrams.
  33. "Andaman and Nicobar gets first fleet of electric buses". The Hindu Business Line.
  34. "Amit Shah flags off 'Go-Go Tourist Buses' in Port Blair". ANI NEWS.
  35. Post, The Phoenix (8 October 2017). "Admiral D K Joshi (Retd.) sworn in as the 13th Lt Governor of A& N Islands". The Phoenix Post.
  36. "Plans afoot to make Andamans a major tourist attraction". The Economic Times.
  37. "India-Japan collaborations: Andaman and Nicobar Islands in focus". ORF.
  38. "PM inaugurates undersea cable between Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar islands". BusinessLine.
  39. "India-Japan collaborations: Andaman and Nicobar Islands in focus". ORF.
  40. "PM in Andamans". Press Information Bureau Government of India. 30 December 2018.
  41. "Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launches submarine cable connectivity to Andaman & Nicobar Islands (CANI)". Press Information Bureau Government of India. 10 August 2020.
  42. "PM Modi launches submarine optical fibre cable to Andaman & Nicobar Islands". The Hindu. 11 August 2020.
  43. "New integrated terminal building at Andaman's VSI Airport to be ready by June 2022". The New Indian Express. 23 August 2021.
  44. "DEVELOPMENT OF NEW GREENFIELD AIRPORT AT PORT BLAIR, A&N (UT) SH: TOPOGRAPHY AND OLS SURVEY BY AERIAL LIDAR AND PREPARATION OF PROJECT REPORT". AAI. 30 August 2019.
  45. "Urban rainwater harvesting- catch water where it falls PBMC launches 'Blue Pipe Project' in city to conserve rain water". The Daily Telegrams.
  46. "Raj Niwas leads the way: Six Rainwater Harvesting Tanks with total storage capacity of 15,28,000 litres installed in its precinct". The Daily Telegrams.
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