New Delhi: The outgoing Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday, a day ahead of his retirement from the Indian Air Force. He was accompanied by his wife Sarita Singh, IANS reported.

Source: IANS via hi INDiA

Sharing images of the meeting, the President's Secretariat said in a post on X: "The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh along with spouse Smt Sarita Singh called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan."

Air Chief Marshal Singh is set to retire on October 31 after a 25-month tenure as the 28th Chief of the Air Staff. His formal farewell will take place on Saturday, when he will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial and then inspect a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Air Force Station, New Delhi, before superannuating from service.

Source: IANS via hi INDiA

Senior officials said the outgoing chief has already been given three official farewells this week: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hosted a farewell on October 26 before leaving on a foreign visit, senior Air Force commanders held a farewell dinner on October 27 at the Akash Officers' Mess near India Gate, and Air Headquarters organised a farewell party on October 28 at the Air Force auditorium in Subroto Park.

Source: SSB Crack

Singh took charge as Chief of the Air Staff on September 30, 2024, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, closing a career of four decades in the Air Force. IANS noted that his tenure at the helm included Operation Sindoor, during which the IAF struck Pakistani terror hideouts.

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, currently the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will take over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on the afternoon of October 31, according to IANS and officials cited in defence reporting. His tenure as chief is scheduled to run until December 31, 2028.