{"id":131762,"date":"2026-11-03T11:50:17","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T06:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=131762"},"modified":"2026-11-03T11:50:17","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T06:20:17","slug":"air-force-chief-marshal-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/air-force-chief-marshal-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force Chief Marshal of India, Current Chief, List 1947-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

The <\/span>Air Force Chief Marshal of India <\/b>refers to the four star rank of Air Chief Marshal in the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) holds this rank and leads the country’s air defence organisation. The position involves strategic planning, operational leadership and ensuring the IAF’s preparedness to protect Indian airspace and support national security.<\/span><\/p>\n

Air Force Chief Marshal of India<\/b><\/h2>\n

The <\/span>Air Chief Marshal <\/b>is the highest active commissioned rank in the Indian Air Force. The officer holding this rank as Chief of the Air Staff is responsible for the overall functioning, administration and operational direction of the force. The rank represents senior military leadership and plays an important role in India’s defence command structure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Air Chief Marshal of India<\/b><\/h2>\n

The <\/span>Air Force Chief Marshal of India <\/b>is a four star rank in the Indian Air Force, equivalent to General in the Indian Army and Admiral in the Indian Navy. Its important features include:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Rank: <\/b>It is the highest active rank in the IAF, positioned above Air Marshal and below the five star Marshal of the Indian Air Force (ceremonial or wartime rank).<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Eligibility: <\/b>The position is occupied by a senior IAF officer with extensive military experience, leadership capabilities and professional expertise in air operations and defence management.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Insignia: <\/b>The rank insignia features four stars and distinctive blue bands. The uniform also carries four sleeve stripes, while gorget patches display four white stars with oak leaves.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Appointment: <\/b>The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by the Prime Minister, approves the appointment of the Chief of the Air Staff.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Tenure: <\/b>The Chief of the Air Staff serves for three years or until attaining 62 years of age, whichever occurs earlier.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Order of Precedence: <\/b>The Air Chief Marshal holds the 12th position in India’s order of precedence, alongside the Chief of Defence Staff and the chiefs of the Army (General) and Navy (Admiral).<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Highest Honour: <\/b>Marshal of the Indian Air Force is the five star rank above Air Chief Marshal.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Current Chief of Indian Air Force 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n

    As of November 2026, the Current Chief of Indian Air Force is Ashutosh Dixit. <\/b>He is the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, succeeding Amar Preet Singh on October 31, 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Important detailed related to the Current Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of Indian Air Force has been listed below:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Name: <\/b>Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit is the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Commissioning: <\/b>He joined the Fighter Stream of the IAF on December 6, 1986.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Flying Experience: <\/b>He has operated aircraft such as Mirage 2000, Jaguar, MiG variants, Hawk and Tejas.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Professional Expertise: <\/b>He is an Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor, with nearly four decades of military service.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Key Appointments: <\/b>Before becoming CAS, he served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Officer Commanding in Chief of Central Air Command and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Operations: <\/b>His operational experience includes Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor, along with Exercise Cope India.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Awards: <\/b>His military honours include the Vayu Sena Medal (2006), Vishisht Seva Medal (2011), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023) and Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2026).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      List of Air Chief Marshal of India 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n

      The <\/span>List of Air Chief Marshal of India 2026 <\/b>includes the successive heads of the Indian Air Force since Independence in 1947. The following table presents their names and respective tenures in chronological order:<\/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 Air Chief Marshal of India 1947 to 2026<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Term<\/b><\/td>\nName<\/b><\/td>\nDuration<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      \n

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

      		\n

      Ashutosh Dixit<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

      31 October 2026 – Incumbent<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

      \n

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

      		\n

      Amar Preet Singh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Vivek Ram Chaudhari<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

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

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Birender Singh Dhanoa<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Arup Raha<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

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

      		\n

      1 August 2011 – 31 December 2013<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

      \n

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

      		\n

      Pradeep Vasant Naik<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

      31 March 2009 – 31 July 2011<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

      \n

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

      		\n

      Fali Homi Major<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Shashindra Pal Tyagi<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

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

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

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

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

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

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Nirmal Chandra Suri<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

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

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

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

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Lakshman Madhav Katre<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Dilbagh Singh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

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

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Hrushikesh Moolgavkar<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Om Prakash Mehra<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Pratap Chandra Lal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Arjan Singh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      A. M. Engineer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

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

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Gerald Ernest Gibbs<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Ronald Ivelaw Chapman<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

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

      \n

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

      		\n

      Thomas Walker Elmhirst<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

      15 August 1947 – 21 February 1950<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

       <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Air Force Chief Marshal of India 2026 is Ashutosh Dixit, who took charge as the 29th IAF Chief on October 31, succeeding Amar Preet Singh, with a four-star military rank.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":131705,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[11315,11314],"class_list":["post-131762","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-general-studies","tag-air-force-chief-marshal","tag-air-force-chief-marshal-of-india","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131762","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\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=131762"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131762\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":131801,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131762\/revisions\/131801"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/131705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=131762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=131762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=131762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}