The Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command is the head of the

Strategic Forces Command The Strategic Forces Command (SFC), sometimes called Strategic Nuclear Command, forms part of India's Nuclear Command Authority (NCA). It is responsible for the management and administration of the country's tactical and strategic nuclear we ...

, the integrated tri-service command responsible for the management and administration of India's tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile. The current Commander-in-Chief is

Vice Admiral Vice admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, usually equivalent to lieutenant general and air marshal. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral. Australia In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of Vice ...

Suraj Berry who took command on 6 October 2023 as the 13th CinC SFC.

History

The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) was created on 4 January 2003 by the Government of India under

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Atal Bihari Vajpayee (25 December 1924 – 16 August 2018) was an Indian poet, writer and statesman who served as the prime minister of India, first for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for a period of 13 months from 1998 ...

. Part of the Nuclear Command Authority, the SFC manages and administers all strategic forces by exercising complete command and control over nuclear assets. The

Cabinet Committee on Security The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is a cabinet committee of the Government of India that discusses, debates and is the final decision-making body on senior appointments in the national security apparatus, defence policy and expenditure, and ...

approved the appointment of a Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command, to manage and administer all Strategic Forces. Air Marshal Teja Mohan Asthana was appointed the first commander-in-chief.

Organisation

The CinC SFC is a

Three-star rank Military star ranking is military terminology, used in mainly English speaking countries, to describe general and flag officers. Within NATO's armed forces, the stars are equal to OF-6–10. Star ranking One-star A one-star rank is usual ...

officer from the three Services in rotation. The CinC reports directly to the

Chief of Defence Staff (India) The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is the principal military authority and senior-most appointment of the Indian Armed Forces. Deemed the overall professional head of India’s three armed services, namely, the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and ...

(CDS). He is assisted by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the command, also a three-star officer.

List of commanders

List of CinC by branches of service

Army : 2
Navy : 4
Air Force : 7

References

{{Military of India Indian Army Indian Navy Indian Air Force Indian military appointments

History

Organisation

List of commanders

List of CinC by branches of service

See also

References