Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, the Vice Chief of the Air Staff since July 2026, was appointed the 29th Chief of the Air Staff with effect from the afternoon of 31 October 2026. He succeeds Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh and takes over in the rank of Air Chief Marshal.
WHAT HAPPENED
The government appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the next Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), the head of the Indian Air Force. The appointment took effect from the afternoon of 31 October 2026, when Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh completed his tenure.
KEY FACTS
- Post: 29th Chief of the Air Staff, held in the rank of Air Chief Marshal.
- Predecessor: Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
- Previous post: Vice Chief of the Air Staff from 1 July 2026, when he succeeded Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor.
- Background: a fighter pilot.
- Tenure: reported to run until 31 December 2028; check the official order for the exact date.
EXAM ANGLE
Know the three service chiefs and their ranks: the Chief of the Air Staff is an Air Chief Marshal, the Chief of the Army Staff a General and the Chief of the Naval Staff an Admiral. The Indian Air Force was founded on 8 October 1932, which is observed as Air Force Day.
SOURCE AND DATE
News reports of the appointment, effective 31 October 2026. Added to this collection on 2 November 2026.