With profound grief and a heavy heart, we regret to inform the sad and untimely demise of Vice Admiral Harish Chandra Singh Bisht (02035Z), PVSM, AVSM (Retd) AM 03 Jun 2026 at Max Hospital, Dehradun after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Vadm HCS Bisht was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 1979 and was a Missiles & Gunnery specialist. He was an alumnus of Sainik School Ghorakhal, National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, the Royal Naval Staff College Greenwich (UK), Naval War College, Mumbai and the National Defence College, New Delhi.

As a young officer, VAdm Bisht served as Flag Lt to Adm RH Tahiliani. During his illustrious career spanning nearly four decades he held various key operational & command appointments which include commissioning Executive Officer of INS Ajay, Cdr Work Up at INWT, FGO Eastern Fleet, commissioning CO of INS Kora and command of INS Tabar. His important Training/Staff appointments include Training Commander, INS Dronacharya, Deputy Director Naval Plans, and Naval Assistant to the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and Director Naval Intelligence at IHQ, MoD (N). He was also Defence Attache at the High Commission of India, Singapore.
On promotion to Flag rank in Jan 2008, he took over as Assistant Controller of Carrier Projects at IHQ, MoD (N) and then served as Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command and Flag Officer Sea Training at Kochi, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet and Assistant Chief of Personnel (HRD).

On Elevation to Vice Admiral on 01 Sep 2012, he took over as the Controller of Personnel Services (CPS) and was subsequently appointed as Director General Indian Coast Guard on 1 Feb 2015 before moving as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command in Feb 2016 from where he retired on 31 Oct 2017. Vadm HCS Bisht was a recipient of PVSM and AVSM.

Post retirement, he served as the Administrative member at the Chandigarh bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal.

On behalf of all serving and retired naval fraternity, we share the family’s grief and pray to almighty to give them the strength to bear the irreparable loss. We also pray for the peace of the departed noble soul.

Next of Kin : LtGen GS Bisht (Retd) (Brother), Upasna (Daughter)