{"id":127939,"date":"2026-10-07T13:18:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T07:48:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=127939"},"modified":"2026-10-07T13:18:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T07:48:52","slug":"air-chief-marshal-ashutosh-dixit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/air-chief-marshal-ashutosh-dixit\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit and List of Chiefs of the Air Staff"},"content":{"rendered":"

Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit<\/b> has been appointed as the next <\/span>Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)<\/b> of the Indian Air Force. The Government of India announced his appointment on <\/span>6 October 2026<\/b>. He will take charge as the <\/span>29th Chief of the Air Staff<\/b> in the rank of Air Chief Marshal from the afternoon of <\/span>31 October 2026<\/b>, succeeding Air Chief Marshal <\/span>Amar Preet Singh<\/b>, who will retire on the same day.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Chief of the Air Staff is the professional head of the <\/span>Indian Air Force (IAF)<\/b> and is responsible for providing leadership, operational direction and strategic guidance to the force.<\/span><\/p>\n

Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit<\/b><\/h2>\n

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit<\/b> is currently serving as the <\/span>Vice Chief of the Air Staff<\/b> and will become the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 31 October 2026. He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on <\/span>6 December 1986<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

List of Chiefs of the Air Staff of India<\/b><\/h2>\n

The following table presents the Chiefs of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force since Independence, including the latest appointment of Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
List of Chiefs of the Air Staff of India<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

S. No.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Chief of the Air Staff<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Tenure<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Marshal Sir Thomas Walker Elmhirst<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15 August 1947 \u2013 22 February 1950<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Marshal Sir Ronald Ivelaw-Chapman<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

22 February 1950 \u2013 9 December 1951<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Marshal Sir Gerald Ernest Gibbs<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10 December 1951 \u2013 31 March 1954<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 April 1954 \u2013 8 November 1960<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Marshal Aspy Merwan Engineer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 December 1960 \u2013 31 July 1964<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 August 1964 \u2013 15 July 1969<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal P. C. Lal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16 July 1969 \u2013 15 January 1973<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal O. P. Mehra<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16 January 1973 \u2013 31 January 1976<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal H. Moolgavkar<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 February 1976 \u2013 31 August 1978<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

10<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal I. H. Latif<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 September 1978 \u2013 31 August 1981<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

11<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal Dilbagh Singh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 September 1981 \u2013 4 September 1984<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

12<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal L. M. Katre<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5 September 1984 \u2013 1 July 1985<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

13<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal D. A. La Fontaine<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3 July 1985 \u2013 31 July 1988<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

14<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal S. K. Mehra<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 August 1988 \u2013 31 July 1991<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

15<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal N. C. Suri<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 August 1991 \u2013 31 July 1993<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

16<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal S. K. Kaul<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 August 1993 \u2013 31 December 1995<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

17<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal S. K. Sareen<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 January 1996 \u2013 31 December 1998<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

18<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal A. Y. Tipnis<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 January 1999 \u2013 31 December 2001<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31 December 2001 \u2013 31 December 2004<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

20<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal S. P. Tyagi<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31 December 2004 \u2013 31 March 2007<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

21<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31 March 2007 \u2013 31 May 2009<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

22<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal P. V. Naik<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31 May 2009 \u2013 31 July 2011<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

23<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31 July 2011 \u2013 31 December 2013<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

24<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31 December 2013 \u2013 31 December 2016<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

25<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31 December 2016 \u2013 30 September 2019<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

26<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30 September 2019 \u2013 30 September 2021<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

27<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30 September 2021 \u2013 30 September 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

28<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30 September 2024 \u2013 31 October 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

29<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31 October 2026 \u2013 Present<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

First Indian Chief of the Air Staff<\/b><\/h2>\n

Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee<\/b> was the <\/span>first Indian<\/b> to become the Chief of the Air Staff. He assumed office on <\/span>1 April 1954<\/b> and served until 8 November 1960.<\/span><\/p>\n

His appointment marked an important stage in the Indianisation of the senior leadership of the Indian Air Force.<\/span><\/p>\n

Arjan Singh: A Historic Chief of the Air Staff<\/b><\/h2>\n

Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh<\/b> served as the Chief of the Air Staff from <\/span>1 August 1964 to 15 July 1969<\/b>. He led the Indian Air Force during the <\/span>1965 India-Pakistan War<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was later promoted to the rank of <\/span>Marshal of the Indian Air Force<\/a><\/b>, becoming the first and only officer to hold this five-star rank in the IAF. His contribution remains an important part of Indian military history.<\/span><\/p>\n

Role of the Chief of the Air Staff<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Chief of the Air Staff is the professional head of the Indian Air Force and plays a central role in its operational and organisational functioning.<\/span><\/p>\n

The major responsibilities of the Chief of the Air Staff include:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Providing professional leadership to the Indian Air Force.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Advising the Government on matters related to air power and air operations.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Overseeing the operational preparedness of the IAF.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Guiding the modernisation and capability development of the force.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Strengthening jointness and coordination with the Indian Army and Indian Navy.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Overseeing training, doctrine and operational planning.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Supporting the development and induction of advanced aircraft, weapons and other technologies.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Promoting self-reliance and indigenous defence production.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Ensuring the readiness of the IAF to respond to emerging security challenges.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit will become the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 31 October 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh as IAF chief.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":127884,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[10725,10724,10726],"class_list":["post-127939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-general-studies","tag-air-chief-marshal","tag-air-chief-marshal-ashutosh-dixit","tag-ashutosh-dixit","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127939","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127939"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127939\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":127946,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127939\/revisions\/127946"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=127939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=127939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}