Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command
In-game article clicks load inline without leaving the challenge.
The Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command is the head of the Strategic Forces Command, 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 Lieutenant General Dinesh Singh Rana who took command on 1 October 2025 as the 14th CinC, SFC.
History
The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) was created on 4 January 2003 by the Government of India under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 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 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 on 10 January 2013.
Organisation
The CinC SFC is a Three-star rank officer from the three Services in rotation. The CinC reports directly to the Chief of Defence Staff (India) (CDS). He is assisted by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the command, also a three-star officer.
List of commanders
| S.No | Name | Branch | Assumed office | Left office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air Marshal Tej Mohan Asthana PVSM, AVSM, VM | Indian Air Force | 10 January 2003 | 30 June 2004 | First C-in-C. |
| 2 | Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani PVSM, AVSM, VM | 12 July 2004 | 18 August 2005 | Later served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff. | |
| 3 | Air Marshal Avinash Deodata Joshi PVSM, VM | 22 August 2005 | 31 December 2006 | ||
| 4 | Vice Admiral Vijay Shankar PVSM, AVSM | Indian Navy | December 2006 | 30 September 2008 | Later served as Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command. |
| 5 | Lieutenant General Balraj Singh Nagal PVSM, AVSM, SM | Indian Army | 30 September 2008 | December 2010 | |
| 6 | Air Marshal K. J. Mathews PVSM, AVSM, YSM | Indian Air Force | 1 January 2011 | 31 October 2012 | |
| 7 | Vice Admiral S. P. S. Cheema PVSM, AVSM, NM | Indian Navy | 1 November 2012 | June 2014 | Later served as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command and as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. |
| 8 | Lieutenant General Amit Sharma PVSM, AVSM, VSM | Indian Army | 13 June 2014 | 31 July 2016 | |
| 9 | Air Marshal Jasbir Walia PVSM, VM, VSM | Indian Air Force | 1 August 2016 | 30 March 2019 | |
| 10 | Air Marshal Navkaranjit Singh Dhillon PVSM, AVSM | 30 March 2019 | 31 January 2021 | ||
| 11 | Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar PVSM, AVSM, VM | 31 January 2021 | 31 August 2021 | ||
| 12 | Vice Admiral R. B. Pandit PVSM, AVSM | Indian Navy | 31 August 2021 | 30 September 2023 | |
| 13 | Vice Admiral Suraj Berry PVSM, AVSM, NM, VSM | 6 October 2023 | 30 September 2025 | ||
| 14 | Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana PVSM, AVSM, YSM, SM | Indian Army | 1 October 2025 | Incumbent |
| Branch | Count |
|---|---|
| List of CinC by branches of service | |
| Indian Army | 3 |
| Indian Navy | 4 |
| Indian Air Force | 7 |