The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) is the professional head and commander of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The CAS is responsible for providing leadership and direction to the Indian Air Force.
As of October 7, 2026, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh is the serving Chief of the Air Staff. He took charge on September 30, 2024.
The Government of India has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff. He will take charge in the rank of Air Chief Marshal from the afternoon of October 31, 2026, after Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh superannuates from office on the same day.
The Indian Air Force was officially established on October 8, 1932. After Independence, the IAF continued to develop as India's air arm and has played an important role in the country's defence and security.
It is important to note that not every early Chief of the Air Staff held the rank of Air Chief Marshal. The office was initially held by officers in the rank of Air Marshal. Arjan Singh became the first Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force after the rank of the CAS was upgraded following the 1965 India-Pakistan War.
The Indian Air Force, the fourth largest in the world, was officially established on 8 October 1932. The main aim of the IAF is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict.
Let us have a look at the list of Air Chief Marshal (ACM) of India from 1947 to 2026.
Who Will Be the 29th Chief of the Air Staff in 2026?
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit will become the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force.
The Government announced his appointment on October 6, 2026. He is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
Air Marshal Dixit will assume office in the rank of Air Chief Marshal on October 31, 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
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Key Facts About the 29th IAF Chief
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| 29th Chief of the Air Staff | Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit |
| Current Chief as of October 7, 2026 | Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh |
| Present position of Ashutosh Dixit | Vice Chief of the Air Staff |
| Appointment announced | October 6, 2026 |
| Date of taking charge | October 31, 2026 |
| Rank on taking charge | Air Chief Marshal |
| Predecessor | Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh |
| Date of birth | December 9, 1966 |
| Commissioned into IAF | December 6, 1986 |
| Branch | Fighter Stream |
| Flying experience | More than 3,500 hours |
| Specialisation | Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor |
| Major aircraft flown | Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Kiran, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk and Tejas |
| Important operations | Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor |
| Latest award | Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2026) |
List of Air Chief Marshal of Indian Air Force From 1947 to 2026
Here is the co,plete list of of the Air Chief Marshal of Indian Air Force From 1947 to 2026 given below in the table format:
| No. | Name | Rank at Appointment / Important Rank | Took Office | Left Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sir Thomas Walker Elmhirst | Air Marshal | August 15, 1947 | February 21, 1950 |
| 2 | Ronald Ivelaw Chapman | Air Marshal | February 22, 1950 | December 9, 1951 |
| 3 | Sir Gerald Ernest Gibbs | Air Marshal | December 10, 1951 | March 31, 1954 |
| 4 | Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee | Air Marshal | April 1, 1954 | November 8, 1960 |
| 5 | Air Marshal A. M. Engineer | Air Marshal | December 1, 1960 | July 31, 1964 |
| 6 | Arjan Singh | Air Marshal; later Air Chief Marshal | August 1, 1964 | July 15, 1969 |
| 7 | Pratap Chandra Lal | Air Chief Marshal | July 16, 1969 | January 15, 1973 |
| 8 | Om Prakash Mehra | Air Chief Marshal | January 16, 1973 | January 31, 1976 |
| 9 | Hrushikesh Moolgavkar | Air Chief Marshal | February 1, 1976 | August 31, 1978 |
| 10 | I. H. Latif | Air Chief Marshal | September 1, 1978 | August 31, 1981 |
| 11 | Dilbagh Singh | Air Chief Marshal | September 1, 1981 | September 4, 1984 |
| 12 | Lakshman Madhav Katre | Air Chief Marshal | September 5, 1984 | July 1, 1985 |
| 13 | D. A. La Fontaine | Air Chief Marshal | July 3, 1985 | July 31, 1988 |
| 14 | S. K. Mehra | Air Chief Marshal | August 1, 1988 | July 31, 1991 |
| 15 | Nirmal Chandra Suri | Air Chief Marshal | August 1, 1991 | July 31, 1993 |
| 16 | S. K. Kaul | Air Chief Marshal | August 1, 1993 | December 31, 1995 |
| 17 | S. K. Sareen | Air Chief Marshal | January 1, 1996 | December 31, 1998 |
| 18 | A. Y. Tipnis | Air Chief Marshal | January 1, 1999 | December 31, 2001 |
| 19 | Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy | Air Chief Marshal | December 31, 2001 | December 31, 2004 |
| 20 | Shashindra Pal Tyagi | Air Chief Marshal | December 31, 2004 | March 31, 2007 |
| 21 | Fali Homi Major | Air Chief Marshal | March 31, 2007 | March 31, 2009 |
| 22 | Pradeep Vasant Naik | Air Chief Marshal | March 31, 2009 | July 31, 2011 |
| 23 | Norman Anil Kumar Browne | Air Chief Marshal | August 1, 2011 | December 31, 2013 |
| 24 | Arup Raha | Air Chief Marshal | December 31, 2013 | December 31, 2016 |
| 25 | Birender Singh Dhanoa | Air Chief Marshal | December 31, 2016 | September 30, 2019 |
| 26 | Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria | Air Chief Marshal | September 30, 2019 | September 30, 2021 |
| 27 | Vivek Ram Chaudhari | Air Chief Marshal | September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2024 |
| 28 | Amar Preet Singh | Air Chief Marshal | September 30, 2024 | October 31, 2026 |
| 29 | Ashutosh Dixit | Air Marshal; Air Chief Marshal from October 31, 2026 | October 31, 2026 | Incumbent |
The highest rank in India's IAF is "Marshal of the Indian Air Force", which is conferred by the President of India only for exceptional service for the nation.
To date, only Arjan Singh was honoured with the post of "Marshal of the Indian Air" in 2002 for his distinguished service in commanding the IAF during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.