In the organisation of the Indian Navy, the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command is located in which coastal city?

Introduction / Context:
Basic defence knowledge is an important part of many competitive exams. The Indian Navy is organised into different commands, each responsible for a major maritime region. The Eastern Naval Command plays a key role in safeguarding the eastern seaboard, and its headquarters location is a frequently asked fact in general awareness sections.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question asks for the city where the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command is located.
- The options are Kolkata, Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, Machilipatnam and Chennai.
- We assume this refers to the main command headquarters, not smaller naval bases or dockyards.

Concept / Approach:
The core concept is to link each naval command with its primary base city. The Eastern Naval Command is headquartered at Visakhapatnam on the east coast of India. This city hosts major naval infrastructure and shipyards. Remembering this mapping helps not only with this question but also with understanding strategic geography and port distribution along the Indian coastline.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Western Naval Command is headquartered in Mumbai, and the Southern Naval Command is headquartered in Kochi. Step 2: Recognise that the Eastern Naval Command covers the Bay of Bengal region and requires a suitable deep water port city. Step 3: Remember that Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh is known for its large natural harbour and major naval base. Step 4: Identify Visakhapatnam among the options as the established headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command. Step 5: Eliminate other coastal cities like Kolkata, Kakinada, Machilipatnam and Chennai as they have ports but do not host the main eastern command headquarters.

Verification / Alternative check:
As verification, think about naval events and news such as fleet reviews or submarine base developments that are often reported from Visakhapatnam. The city is repeatedly mentioned in connection with the Eastern Naval Command, reinforcing the association. Kolkata and Chennai are important ports but are not described as naval command headquarters in standard defence knowledge summaries, which confirms Visakhapatnam as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Kolkata is a major port on the Hooghly River but does not serve as the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command.
Kakinada is a port town in Andhra Pradesh but hosts smaller facilities compared to Visakhapatnam and is not the command headquarters.
Machilipatnam is another coastal town with historical significance but does not house the primary naval command base.
Chennai is an important east coast metropolis and harbour but is not designated as the Eastern Naval Command headquarters.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners mistakenly choose Kolkata or Chennai simply because they are large coastal cities. Others may confuse Visakhapatnam with smaller Andhra ports. To avoid such mistakes, it is helpful to remember a simple mapping: Western Command Mumbai, Eastern Command Visakhapatnam and Southern Command Kochi. Writing these down in a small defence summary chart during revision can solidify the associations.

Final Answer:
The headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy is located in Visakhapatnam.