https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Saju_BalakrishnanSaju Balakrishnan - Revision history2026-09-07T11:10:45ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saju_Balakrishnan&diff=532007&oldid=prevAntoniochx: Starting a stub2026-04-24T10:14:26Z<p>Starting a stub</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, India}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}<br />
{{Infobox officeholder<br />
| honorific_prefix = [[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]]<br />
| name = Saju Balakrishnan<br />
| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=IND|PVSM|AVSM|VM}}<br />
| native_name =<br />
| native_name_lang = <br />
| image = File:Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan AVSM, VM, Commander-In-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command.jpg<br />
| image_size = <br />
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| birth_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}} if dead --><br />
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| placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --><br />
| nickname = <br />
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| allegiance = {{Country|India}}<br />
| branch = {{Air force|India}}<br />
| service_years = 7 June 1986 – 31 May 2025<br />
| rank = [[File:Indian IAF OF-8.svg|24px]] [[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]]<br />
| military_blank1 = [[Service number]]<br />
| military_data1 = 18300<ref name="sbalak-brf">{{cite web|url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/18300|title=Air Marshal Balakrishnan Saju|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|access-date=2023-05-01}}</ref><br />
| unit = [[No. 32 Squadron IAF|No.32 Squadron]]<br>[[No. 50 Squadron IAF|No. 50 Squadron]]<br />
| commands = [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]]<br />
| battles = <br />
| battles_label = <br />
| awards = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]<br>[[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] <br>[[Vayu Sena Medal]]<br />
| spouse = <br />
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| alma_mater = [[Air Force Academy (India)|Air Force Academy]] <br />
}}<br />
<br />
[[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]] '''Saju Balakrishnan''', [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal|AVSM]], [[Vayu Sena Medal|VM]] is a retired officer of the [[Indian Air Force]]. He is served as the 17th Commander-in-Chief, [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]] (CINCAN). He assumed the office on 1 May 2023 succeeding [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Ajai Singh (lieutenant general)|Ajai Singh]], till 31 May 2025.<ref name="pib-010523">{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1921250|title= Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan AVSM, VM Takes Over As 17th Commander-In-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command (CINCAN)|publisher=PIB|date=1 May 2023}}</ref><br />
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== Early life and education ==<br />
Saju Balakrishnan is an alumnus of [[Sainik School Kazhakootam|Sanik School, Kazhakootam]] and [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]], [[Pune]]. He has done the staff course from [[Royal College of Defence Studies]], United Kingdom.<ref name="pib-010523"/><br />
<br />
==Career==<br />
Saju Balakrishnan was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force in June 1986. In a career spanning over 37 years, he has as more than 3,200 hours of flying experience across various variants of [[MiG-21]] and [[HAL HJT-16 Kiran|Kiran]] aircraft.<ref name="tdg-010523">{{cite web|url=https://thedailyguardian.com/air-marshal-saju-balakrishnan-takes-charge-as-chief-of-andaman-air-command/|title= Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan takes charge as Chief of Andaman Air Command |publisher=The Daily Guardian|date=2 May 2023}}</ref><br />
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He is an accomplished fighter combat leader and experimental test pilot. He served as the Commanding officer of [[No. 32 Squadron IAF|No. 32 Squadron]] sporting the [[MiG-21|MiG-21 Bison]] and was the first commanding officer of the [[No. 50 Squadron IAF|No. 50 Squadron]] featuring [[Airborne early warning and control|AWACS]] aircraft.<ref name="sbalak-brf"/><ref name="pib-010523"/><br />
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As [[Air commodore (India)|Air Commodore]], he served as the Air Officer Commanding of 32 Wing at the [[Jodhpur]] sector in the [[South Western Air Command (India)|South Western Air Command]]. Later, he did the staff course from [[Royal College of Defence Studies]], United Kingdom.<ref name="sbalak-brf"/><ref name="pib-010523"/><ref name="red-100523"/><br />
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As [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]], he served as the Assistant Chief of Integrated Defense Staff, ACIDS (Pers Plans & Force). Later, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Air Defence, New Delhi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/air-marshal-saju-balakrishnan-takes-over-as-17th-cincan-of-india-s-first-tri-service-command-the-andaman-and-nicobar-command-101682966648243.html|title=Balakrishnan new head of Port Blair-based command|publisher=Hindustan Times|date=2 May 2023}}</ref><br />
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After his promotion to [[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]] on 8 March 2022, he served as the Senior Air Staff Officer, [[Training Command, Indian Air Force|Training Command]] till 30 April 2023.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1501944769253371911|user=Prodef_blr|title=Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan assumed the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO), at Head Quarters, Training Command (TC) of Indian Airforce, at Bengaluru on 08 Mar 2022. |date=10 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="th-090822">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/air-marshal-saju-balakrishnanvisits-bidar-air-force-station/article65750168.ece|title= Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan visits Bidar Air Force station |publisher=The Hindu|date=9 August 2022}}</ref><br />
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He took over as the [[Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command|Commander-in-Chief]], Andaman and Nicobar Command on 1 May 2023 from [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Ajai Singh (lieutenant general)|Ajai Singh]]. He is the first Indian Air Force Air Marshal in a decade to head the CINAC.<ref name="red-100523">{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/interview/air-marshal-saju-balakrishnan-we-have-to-be-prepared-for-the-invisible-enemy/20230510.htm|title=We have to be prepared for the invisible enemy|publisher=Rediff|date=10 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="pib-010523"/><br />
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He superannuated on 31 May 2025 after 39 years of service to the nation.<br />
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== Honours and decorations ==<br />
During his career, Saju Balakrishnan has been awarded the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] in 2025, [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] in 2021 and [[Vayu Sena Medal]] in 2012 for his service.<ref name="PVSM">{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2096200|title=President approves Gallantry awards to 93 Armed Forces personnel, including 12 posthumous & 305 defence decorations on the eve of Republic Day 2025|work=PIB|date=2025-01-25}}</ref><ref name="avsm">{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1692363|title=President Shri Ram Nath Kovind approves 455 Gallantry & other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day |publisher=PIB|date=25 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="vm">{{cite press release|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=79889|title=368 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced|publisher=PIB|date=25 January 2012}}</ref><br />
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{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"<br />
|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}<br />
|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}<br />
|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} <br />
|[[File:IND Samanya Seva medal.svg|frameless|105x105px]] <br />
|- <br />
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}} <br />
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}} <br />
|[[File:75yearmedal.svg|105px]] <br />
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}} <br />
|-<br />
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}}<br />
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}<br />
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"<br />
|-<br />
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]<br />
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]<br />
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Vayu Sena Medal]] <br />
|[[Samanya Seva Medal]] <br />
|- <br />
|[[Sainya Seva Medal]] <br />
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|High Altitude Service Medal]]<br />
|[[75th Independence Anniversary Medal (India)|75th Anniversary of Independence Medal]]<br />
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|50th Anniversary of Independence Medal]]<br />
|-<br />
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|30 Years Long Service Medal]]<br />
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|20 Years Long Service Medal]]<br />
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|9 Years Long Service Medal]]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
{{s-start}}<br />
{{s-mil}}{{Succession box<br />
| title = [[Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command|Commander-in-Chief]], Andaman and Nicobar Command<br />
| years = 1 May 2023 – 31 May 2025<br />
| before = [[Ajai Singh (lieutenant general)|Ajai Singh]]<br />
| after = [[Dinesh Singh Rana]]<br />
}}<br />
{{Succession box<br />
| title = Senior Air Staff Officer – [[Training Command, Indian Air Force|Training Command]]<br />
| years = 8 March 2022 – 30 April 2023<br />
| before = [[B Chandra Sekhar]]<br />
| after = [[Surendra Kumar Indoria]]<br />
}}<br />
{{s-end}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saju, Balakrishnan}}<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Air Force air marshals]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Vayu Sena Medal]]<br />
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]</div>Antoniochx