Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit appointed 29th Chief of the Air Staff; takes over on 31 October 2026
On 6 October 2026, the Government appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, in the rank of Air Chief Marshal, from the afternoon of 31 October 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
Summary
The Government of India on 6 October 2026 appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, presently the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of the Indian Air Force in the rank of Air Chief Marshal, with effect from the afternoon of 31 October 2026. He will succeed Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who superannuates on 31 October 2026. Commissioned into the fighter stream on 6 December 1986, Air Marshal Dixit is an Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor with more than 3,500 flying hours, and earlier served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) and as AOC-in-C, Central Air Command.
Key facts
- Post
- 29th Chief of the Air Staff (Air Chief Marshal)
- Appointee
- Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM
- Present post
- Vice Chief of the Air Staff
- With effect from
- Afternoon of 31 October 2026
- Predecessor
- Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh (superannuates 31 Oct 2026)
- Born
- 9 December 1966
- Commissioned
- 6 December 1986, fighter stream
- Flying experience
- 3,500+ hours (Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Tejas, etc.)
- Operations
- Op Safed Sagar, Op Rakshak, Op Sindoor
- Alumnus
- NDA; DSCSC Bangladesh; National Defence College
Practice MCQs 4 questions
In October 2026, who was appointed as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force?
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Correct answer: D — Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes over as Chief of the Air Staff with effect from the afternoon of which date?
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Correct answer: D — 31 October 2026
At the time of his appointment as Chief of the Air Staff in October 2026, Ashutosh Dixit was serving as:
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Correct answer: A — Vice Chief of the Air Staff
Consider the following statements about the Chief of the Air Staff appointed in October 2026: 1. Ashutosh Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in December 1986. 2. Ashutosh Dixit will be the 30th Chief of the Air Staff. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only