PrepMaticCurrent affairs · October 2026
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit appointed the 29th Chief of the Air Staff
The Government of India announced on 6 October 2026 that Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, currently the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will be the 29th Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) in the rank of Air Chief Marshal. He takes charge in the afternoon of 31 October 2026, when the present chief, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, superannuates.
Profile
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 December 1966 |
| Commissioned | 6 December 1986, fighter stream |
| Present post | Vice Chief of the Air Staff |
| Earlier posts | Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) at HQ IDS; Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command |
| Education and training | National Defence Academy; Defence Services Command and Staff College, Bangladesh; National Defence College |
| Flying experience | More than 3,500 hours on aircraft including Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk and Tejas |
| Decorations | Vayu Sena Medal (2006), Vishisht Seva Medal (2011), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023), Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2026) |
He is an Experimental Test Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor. His service of about four decades includes Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor. He commanded a front-line fighter air base in the Western sector and a premier fighter training base in the Southern sector.
Why it matters for exams
Appointments of service chiefs, with the number in the sequence, rank and date of taking charge, are standard current affairs facts for TNPSC (appointments) and general awareness in banking exams. Note that the order is notified now but takes effect on 31 October 2026. Use the TNPSC current affairs guide to keep an appointments list.
Practice questions
Question 1
Who has been appointed the 29th Chief of the Air Staff?
- A. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit
- B. Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh
- C. Air Chief Marshal V. R. Chaudhari
- D. Admiral Krishna Swaminathan
Question 2
From when will the new Chief of the Air Staff take charge?
- A. 6 October 2026
- B. 9 December 2026
- C. 31 October 2026
- D. 1 January 2027
Answers
- A. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit succeeds Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retires on 31 October 2026.
- C. He takes over in the afternoon of 31 October 2026, the day the present chief superannuates.
Source
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