Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit named next Chief of the Air Staff

07-10-2026 · English

Topics: Appointments · 7 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, now Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS), was appointed the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (7 Oct 2026). He takes over on 31 Oct 2026, when Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh retires.

Key facts

Background

• Constitution: Article 53(2) vests the supreme command of the Defence Forces in the President. Service chiefs are selected by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC – PM and Home Minister).
• IAF set-up: HQ Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi; 7 commands – Western (Delhi), South Western (Gandhinagar), Central (Prayagraj), Eastern (Shillong), Southern (Thiruvananthapuram), Training (Bengaluru), Maintenance (Nagpur).
• Ranks: Air Chief Marshal is a 4-star rank. The only officer made 5-star 'Marshal of the Air Force' is Arjan Singh (2002).
• Sci-tech: the Tejas light combat aircraft is designed by ADA and built by HAL; Dixit once commanded the flight-test squadron at ASTE, Bengaluru.
• History: 'Operation Safed Sagar' was the IAF's role in the 1999 Kargil war; 'Operation Sindoor' was in May 2025.

Tamil Nadu link: Thanjavur air base hosts the BrahMos-armed Su-30MKI 'Tigersharks' (No. 222 Squadron, 2020); Sulur has Tejas squadrons; Tambaram has the Flying Instructors' School.

Source: The Week, Raksha Anirveda, 6–7 Oct 2026

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