Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Appointed 29th Chief of the Air Staff: Career and 31 Oct 2026 Handover

The Government of India has named Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the next Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. The appointment, reported by The Hindu on 6 October 2026, makes him the 29th officer to lead the service. He will take over in the rank of Air Chief Marshal from the afternoon of 31 October 2026, when the incumbent, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, superannuates.

Who is Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit?

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit is a fighter pilot who joined the IAF in December 1986. Over nearly four decades he has flown more than 3,500 hours on aircraft such as the Mirage-2000, MiG series, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk and the indigenous Tejas.

Key assignments before the top post

Before becoming Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Dixit served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command. He also commanded a frontline fighter base in the western sector and a fighter training base in the southern sector.

Operational experience and honours

His service includes participation in Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor. He has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (2006), Vishisht Seva Medal (2011), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023) and Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2026).

Transition timeline

The appointment was announced on 6 October 2026. Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh superannuates on 31 October 2026, and Dixit will assume charge in the rank of Air Chief Marshal that same afternoon, ensuring a seamless handover.

Why the name is trending

According to Google Trends data for India observed on 7 October 2026, the search term “air marshal ashutosh dixit” showed roughly 200 queries in the previous 24 hours with about 50% growth, reflecting the news of his appointment (Google Trends).