New Delhi: Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, AVSM VM, has been appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) with effect from November 1, 2026, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) announced on Friday. He is presently the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Air Command.
Source: PIB via IBG News
Walia takes over from Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who will take over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on October 31 following the retirement of Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh after 42 years of service, IANS reported. Walia will take charge as Vice Chief the following day, completing the key changes in the Indian Air Force's top leadership within 24 hours.
Source: IANS via hi INDiA
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Walia was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on June 11, 1988, and is qualified on all variants of the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, Jaguar and Su-30 MKI. In a career spanning almost four decades, he has held various command and staff appointments, the PIB said. IANS described him as an accomplished fighter pilot with more than 3,200 hours of flying experience.
Source: PIB via IBG News
He has commanded a frontline fighter squadron, the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), and was Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Bareilly. He headed the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection (DASI), served as Defence Attache at the Indian missions in Japan and South Korea, and was Senior Air Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command before taking over that command.
Source: PIB via IBG News
Walia has undergone the Advanced Command and Staff Course in the United Kingdom and the National Defence College course in Bangladesh, and holds three postgraduate degrees in defence and strategic studies. He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2008 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2018, according to the PIB release.
Source: PIB via IBG News