Dear Members,

1. With profound grief and sorrow, we deeply regret to inform passing away of Rear Admiral Vijay Kumar Malhotra (00396-Z) at 0801h on Wednesday, 21st January 2026 at New Delhi due to Cardiac Arrest. He was 85 years of age.

2. Rear Admiral VK Malhotra (00396-Z), ex-15th Course NDA was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy on 1st July 1960. After initial courses he specialised in Communication & Electronic Warfare.

3. During his illustrious career spanning 35 years he held several important Afloat and Ashore appointments details of which are as follows: –

(a) Afloat Appointments:

(i) During initial years he served on board various IN Ships Trishul, Karwar and Cauvery for Watchkeeping duties.
(ii) He was Communication Officer on board IN Ships Vikrant and Khukri.
(iii) He was Executive Officer, INS Cuddalore.
(iv) He served as Fleet Communications Officer of Eastern Fleet from December 1973 to December 1974.
(v) He was Executive Officer of INS Delhi from December 1974 to December 1975.
(vi) His first sea command was the Commanding Officer INS Androth and later the Senior Officer of 15th Patrol Vessel Squadron.
(vii) His final sea command was as Commanding Officer INS Udaygiri.
(viii) Finally, he held the operational command as the Flag Officer, Maharashtra Area.

(b) Ashore Appointments:

(i) He was appointed to INS Venduruthy to undergo Long Communication and Electronic Warfare.
(ii) Subsequently, he was deputed to undergo Defence Services Staff Course at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.
(iii) Later he was appointed as Command Operational and Plans Officer at Headquarters, Western Naval Command.
(iv) Other important shore appointments included GSO-1 (Navy) Signals Intelligence Directorate, Army Headquarters, Joint Director Naval Intelligence, NHQ, Director Naval Signals, NHQ.
(v) On promotion to Flag Rank he was appointed as the Flag Officer, Offshore Defence Advisory Group, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations), NHQ and finally as the Director General, Project Seabird, bringing a brilliant naval career to an end.

4. Funeral and Last Rites of Late Rear Admiral VK Malhotra were performed on 21st January 2026 at Lodhi Cremation Ground, New Delhi.

5. We pray to Almighty God to grant eternal Peace to the noble soul of Late Rear Admiral VK Malhotra at his final resting place.

6. We convey our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to all members of the grieving Family and pray to God Almighty to grant them peace, solace, comfort, strength, courage, fortitude and forbearance to bear pain of irreplaceable loss.

NOK: Mrs Mandira Nath, Daughter; Mr Nikhil Malhotra, Son.

Om Shanti

Team NFPC