Live updates: Two missing Navy commanders confirmed dead, INS Sindhuratna brought to Mumbai

Admiral Joshi is the first military chief to resign. He took charge in 2012, and had more than a year left in service.

The government has accepted his resignation immediately. However, it has thrown open the issue of succession.

Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Robin Dhowan is currently the acting Naval Chief, pending the appointment of a new Chief. Had Admiral Joshi not resigned, Dhowan would have retired on May 31 this year.

However Vice Admiral Dhowan is junior to Western Naval Command chief Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, under whose command most of the naval mishaps have taken place.

The defence ministry is reluctant to make Vice Admiral Sinha, currently the sniormost after Admiral Joshi's departure, the new Naval Chief. There are indications that Vice Admiral Sinha may also resign following the footsteps of Admiral Joshi.

The mantle may now fall on Vice Admiral Satish Soni, currently heading the Southern Naval Command at Kochi. The jury is still out.

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