Who assumed charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force?
- A.Air Chief Marshal AP Singh
- B.Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit
- C.Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari
- D.Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit. He took charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force on 31 October 2026, moving up from the post of Vice Chief of the Air Staff. Option A is wrong because Air Chief Marshal AP Singh is the officer he replaced: AP Singh retired from service on the same day, closing a career of 42 years, so he is the outgoing chief and not the new one. Options C and D are wrong because no officer of either name took over the top post of the Air Force on that date; the handover was between AP Singh and Ashutosh Dixit alone. The new chief is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, was commissioned into the fighter stream on 6 December 1986, and is a fighter pilot, Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot with more than 3,300 hours in the air.
Read the full article: Ashutosh Dixit Becomes 29th Chief of the Air Staff
Practice Questions
How many hours of flying experience does the new Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, have?
- A.Over 1,300 hours
- B.Over 2,300 hours
- C.Over 3,300 hours
- D.Over 5,300 hours
Show answer
The new Chief of the Air Staff has flown for more than 3,300 hours across a wide spread of aircraft, among them the Mirage-2000, a number of MiG variants, the Jaguar and several transport types.
Read the full explanation →Which post did Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit hold during Operation Sindoor?
- A.Vice Chief of the Air Staff
- B.Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
- C.Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command
- D.Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee
Show answer
He held that tri-service appointment during Operation Sindoor.
Read the full explanation →Which of these decorations has the 29th Chief of the Air Staff NOT been awarded, as listed with his appointment?
- A.Param Vishisht Seva Medal
- B.Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
- C.Vayu Sena Medal
- D.Ashoka Chakra
Show answer
The decorations listed for Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit are the Vayu Sena Medal, the Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, which is why options A, B and C are all awards he holds and therefore wrong answers to a question asking…
Read the full explanation →Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes charge as which Chief of the Air Staff?
- A.27th
- B.28th
- C.29th
- D.30th
Show answer
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who was holding the appointment of Vice Chief of the Air Staff, assumes charge as the head of the Indian Air Force on 31 October 2026, and it is his elevation that creates the vacancy filled by Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia a day later.
Read the full explanation →Who has been appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff with effect from 1 November 2026?
- A.Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit
- B.Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia
- C.Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh
- D.Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar
Show answer
The Ministry of Defence announced that this officer, decorated with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vayu Sena Medal, takes over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, the second-ranking appointment in the Indian Air Force.
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