At a glance
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of India's armed forces. It was raised on 8 October 1932, which is why Air Force Day falls on 8 October, and it is headed by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), an Air Chief Marshal, with the President of India as Supreme Commander.
Key facts
- Raised: 8 October 1932, under the Indian Air Force Act 1932, as an auxiliary of the Royal Air Force
- First squadron: No. 1 Squadron, 1 April 1933, flying Westland Wapiti biplanes
- Motto: "Nabhah Sparsham Deeptam" ("Touch the sky with glory"), from the Bhagavad Gita
- Headquarters: Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi
- Supreme Commander: President of India (Droupadi Murmu)
- Chief of the Air Staff (as of 26 Oct 2026): Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, in office since 30 September 2024; retires 31 October 2026
- Chief-designate: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, named on 6 October 2026 as the 29th CAS, takes over on 31 October 2026
- Only five-star officer: Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh (rank conferred 2002)
- Commands: 7 (5 operational, 2 functional)
- Air Force Day 2026: 94th anniversary, parade at Air Force Station Hindon, Ghaziabad
How it works
The IAF is organised into seven commands, each led by an Air Marshal as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
| Command | Headquarters | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Western Air Command | New Delhi | Operational |
| Eastern Air Command | Shillong | Operational |
| Central Air Command | Prayagraj | Operational |
| Southern Air Command | Thiruvananthapuram | Operational |
| South Western Air Command | Gandhinagar | Operational |
| Training Command | Bengaluru | Functional |
| Maintenance Command | Nagpur | Functional |
Display teams:
- Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team: formed in 1996 on Kiran trainers; re-formed in 2015 with BAE Hawk Mk 132 jets; based at Bidar, Karnataka.
- Sarang: helicopter display team flying the HAL-built Dhruv (Advanced Light Helicopter).
Theatre commands debate: Theatre commands would place Army, Navy and Air Force units in one region under a single commander. The IAF argues that scarce assets such as fighters should stay under central control and be assigned as the situation demands.
Timeline
- 1932: IAF raised (8 October)
- 1933: No. 1 Squadron formed (1 April)
- 1945: "Royal" prefix conferred (Royal Indian Air Force)
- 1950: "Royal" dropped when India became a republic
- 1996: Surya Kiran team formed
- 2002: Arjan Singh made Marshal of the Air Force
- 2024: A.P. Singh takes over as CAS (30 September)
- 2026: Ashutosh Dixit named 29th CAS (6 October)
Recent developments
- 26 Oct 2026 (reported): ACM A.P. Singh said the IAF does not favour dividing its fighters permanently among geographical theatre commands, arguing for "centralised control, decentralised execution" and citing joint planning during Operation Sindoor.
- 25 Oct 2026: The "Wings Over Ganges" display over Namo Ghat, Varanasi, marking the 94th anniversary, ended with a show attended by PM Modi. About 100 aircraft took part, including 52 fighters (Rafale, Su-30MKI, Tejas, Jaguar), plus the Chinook and the LCH Prachand. Earlier displays were held on 22 and 24 October.
- 8 Oct 2026: The 94th Air Force Day parade and flypast were held at Air Force Station Hindon.
- 6 Oct 2026: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit named the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, to succeed ACM A.P. Singh on 31 October.
Exam traps
- The IAF was raised on 8 October 1932 (Air Force Day), but its first squadron flew only from 1 April 1933.
- As of 26 October 2026, A.P. Singh is still the chief. Dixit takes over only on 31 October.
- Surya Kiran flies jets (Hawk); Sarang flies helicopters (Dhruv).
- Hindon (Ghaziabad) was the Air Force Day parade venue; Varanasi hosted the separate "Wings Over Ganges" show.
- The "Royal" prefix applied only from 1945 to 1950; Arjan Singh, the only Marshal of the Air Force, got the five-star rank in 2002.
Quick check
- Q: Which anniversary did the IAF mark on 8 October 2026? A: Its 94th.
- Q: Who has been named the 29th Chief of the Air Staff? A: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, taking over on 31 October 2026.
- Q: Where is the Maintenance Command headquartered? A: Nagpur.
Sources
- https://newsonair.gov.in/air-marshal-ashutosh-dixit-appointed-as-29th-chief-of-air-staff/
- https://ddindia.co.in/2026/10/iaf-conducts-full-dress-rehearsal-at-hindon-airbase-ahead-of-air-force-day-parade-on-oct-8/
- https://pib.gov.in/photshare/167430_3_1_photoshare.aspx
- https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/air-chief-marshal-ap-singh-takes-charge-as-new-iaf-chief/amp
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Air_Force
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Indian_Air_Force
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Indian_Air_Force
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjan_Singh
- https://www.gktoday.in/indian-air-force-structure-commands-and-ranks/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya_Kiran
- https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/suryakiran-aerobatic-team
In the news
Every time this topic has appeared in our current affairs, newest first:
- 26 October 2026IAF chief A.P. Singh against splitting fighter fleets under theatre commands
- 26 October 2026"Wings Over Ganges" air show held at Varanasi
- Week of 8–14 October 2026Indian Air Force Day, 8 October: 94th anniversary