Air Marshal Tarun Chaudhry heads Central Air Command; Maj Gen Rachel Thomas becomes ADG, Military Nursing Service
On 1 June 2026, Air Marshal Tarun Chaudhry took over as AOC-in-C, Central Air Command, and Maj Gen Rachel Thomas as Additional Director General, Military Nursing Service.
Summary
Air Marshal Tarun Chaudhry assumed the appointment of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command, on 1 June 2026, succeeding Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan, who superannuated on 31 May 2026. Commissioned into the IAF's fighter stream in December 1989, he was earlier Senior Air Staff Officer at HQ Southern Air Command and Defence Attaché in Sweden. On the same day, Maj Gen Rachel Thomas assumed the appointment of Additional Director General, Military Nursing Service, succeeding Maj Gen Lissamma PV, who superannuated on 31 May 2026; she was commissioned into the Military Nursing Service on 1 June 1988.
Key facts
- AOC-in-C, Central Air Command
- Air Marshal Tarun Chaudhry, from 1 June 2026
- Predecessor
- Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan (superannuated 31 May 2026)
- Previous post
- SASO, HQ Southern Air Command
- ADG, Military Nursing Service
- Maj Gen Rachel Thomas, from 1 June 2026; succeeds Maj Gen Lissamma PV
Practice MCQs 1 questions
Air Marshal Tarun Chaudhry, who succeeded Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan on 1 June 2026, became AOC-in-C of which IAF command?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Central Air Command
He assumed the appointment of AOC-in-C, Central Air Command; he was earlier SASO at HQ Southern Air Command.