Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Appointed Chief of Air Staff

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was appointed as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 6 October 2026. He will assume charge in the rank of Air Chief Marshal from the afternoon of 31 October 2026, after the superannuation of Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.

Chief of the Air Staff

The Chief of the Air Staff is the professional head of the Indian Air Force and a four-star appointment in the Indian armed forces. The office is held by an officer of the rank of Air Chief Marshal and is responsible for the command, administration, and operational readiness of the service.

Service Profile of Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986. He has nearly four decades of service and has served as an Experimental Test Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor. He has more than 3,500 hours of flying experience on aircraft such as the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk, and Tejas.

Key Appointments and Training

Before this appointment, he served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff. His earlier appointments include Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Staff Service College in Bangladesh, and the National Defence College.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Indian Air Force was established on 8 October 1932.
• The rank of Air Chief Marshal is a four-star rank in the Indian Air Force.
• The National Defence Academy is located at Khadakwasla in Maharashtra.
• The Param Vishisht Seva Medal is one of India’s highest peacetime distinguished service awards.

Operations, Exercises, and Awards

Air Marshal Dixit has been associated with Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak, and Operation Sindoor. He has received the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023, and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026.

The Chief of the Air Staff is appointed by the Government of India and serves as the senior-most officer of the Indian Air Force. The post is part of the Chiefs of Staff Committee framework in India’s defence structure.