Chief of the Air Staff (India): Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Leader of the Indian Air Force}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
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| flagborder = yes
| flagborder = yes
| flagcaption = Flag of the Chief of the Air Staff
| flagcaption = Flag of the Chief of the Air Staff
| image = Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari PVSM AVSM VM ADC.jpg
| image = Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari PVSM AVSM VM ADC.jpg
| imagesize =  
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| alt =  
| alt =  
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| style =  
| style =  
| type =  
| type =  
| status =  
| status = Leader and Commanding Officer of the Air Force
| abbreviation = CAS
| abbreviation = CAS
| member_of = [[National Security Council (India)|National Security Council]]
| member_of = [[National Security Council (India)|National Security Council]]
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| termlength_qualified =  
| termlength_qualified =  
| constituting_instrument = [https://mod.gov.in/sites/default/files/AFAct.pdf Air Force Act, 1950 (Act No.  45 of 1950)]
| constituting_instrument = [https://mod.gov.in/sites/default/files/AFAct.pdf Air Force Act, 1950 (Act No.  45 of 1950)]
| precursor = Air Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Air Force
| precursor = Air Officer Commanding, [[Royal Indian Air Force]]
| formation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1950|01|26}}
| formation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1950|01|26}}
| first = [[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]] [[Sir]] [[Thomas Elmhirst]]
| first = [[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]] [[Sir]] [[Thomas Elmhirst]]
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}}
}}


The '''Chief of the Air Staff''' is the [[chief of staff|head]] of [[military staff]] of the [[Indian Air Force]]. The CAS is the leader of the governing body of the Air Force, and is usually the highest ranking officer of the Air Force unless the [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces]] is taken as an officer of the aerial branch of the armed forces.<ref>{{cite web | title = Ex-Chiefs Gallery | url = http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_exchief_page.php?pg_id=19 | access-date = 2014-08-16 | publisher = Indian Air Force | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140403061917/http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_exchief_page.php?pg_id=19 | archive-date = 3 April 2014 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The position is abbreviated as '''CAS''' in the Indian Air Force cables and communication, and is always held by a [[Four-star rank|full]] [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]] since 1966. The chief is directly responsible for leading the Indian Air Force as the chief military adviser on aerial affairs. They are responsible for coordinating and chairing the military air staff of the Air force and ultimately are subject to the Chief of Defence and the [[government of India]].
The '''Chief of the Air Staff (India)''', known also as the '''Air Force Chief''', is the [[chief of staff|chief commanding authority]] and head air marshal of the [[Indian Air Force]]. The COAS is the most senior member of the Air Force, and is usually the highest ranking air officer of the [[Indian Armed Forces ]] unless the [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence]] is an officer of the aerial branch. The office holder is the chief adviser to the [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]] on aerial affairs and heads the military staff of the Indian Air Force.


The current CAS is [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]] [[Vivek Ram Chaudhari]] who took office on 30 September 2021, following the retirement of [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]] [[Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Quint |first1=The |title=Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari To Be Next Chief of Air Staff |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/air-marshal-vivek-ram-chaudhari-to-be-next-chief-of-air-staff |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=TheQuint |date=21 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
The current CAS is [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]] [[Vivek Ram Chaudhari]] who took office on 30 September 2021, following the retirement of [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]] [[Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Quint |first1=The |title=Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari To Be Next Chief of Air Staff |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/air-marshal-vivek-ram-chaudhari-to-be-next-chief-of-air-staff |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=TheQuint |date=21 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
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| image            =  
| image            =  
| military_rank    = [[Air Marshal]]
| military_rank    = [[Air Marshal]]
| officeholder      = [[Thomas Elmhirst|Sir Thomas Elmhirst]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CB|KBE|AFC}}
| officeholder      = [[Thomas Elmhirst|Sir Thomas]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CB|KBE|AFC}}
| officeholder_sort = Elmhirst, Thomas
| officeholder_sort = Elmhirst, Thomas
| officeholder_note = {{efn|name=RAF}}
| officeholder_note = {{efn|name=RAF}}
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{{Officeholder table
{{Officeholder table
| order            = 23
| order            = 23
| image            = The Vice Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal N.A.K. Browne has been named as the new Chief of Air Staff, who will take over from Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik on his retirement on July 31, 2011.jpg
| image            = Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, PVSM AVSM VM ADC.jpg
| military_rank    = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| military_rank    = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder      = [[Norman Anil Kumar Browne]] {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VM|ADC}}
| officeholder      = [[Norman Anil Kumar Browne]] {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VM|ADC}}
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{{Officeholder table
{{Officeholder table
| order            = 26
| order            = 26
| image            = Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhaduria PVSM AVSM VM ADC.jpg
| image            = Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria PVSM AVSM VM ADC took over as the Chief of the Air Staff on 30 September 2019.jpg
| military_rank    = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| military_rank    = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder      = [[Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria]] {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VM|ADC}}
| officeholder      = [[Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria]] {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VM|ADC}}
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{{Officeholder table
{{Officeholder table
| order            = 27
| order            = 27
| image            = Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari PVSM AVSM VM ADC.jpg
| image            = Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari PVSM AVSM VM ADC.jpg
| military_rank    = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| military_rank    = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder      = [[Vivek Ram Chaudhari]] {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VM|ADC}}
| officeholder      = [[Vivek Ram Chaudhari]] {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|PVSM|AVSM|VM|ADC}}

Revision as of 16:31, 13 January 2022


Chief of the Air Staff
Flag of the Chief of the Air Staff
Incumbent
Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari,
PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
since 30 September 2021
 Indian Air Force
StatusLeader and Commanding Officer of the Air Force
AbbreviationCAS
Member ofNational Security Council
Reports toPrime Minister
Minister of Defence
Error creating thumbnail: File missingChief of Defence Staff
SeatCentral Secretariat
AppointerAppointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)
Term length3 years or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier.
Constituting instrumentAir Force Act, 1950 (Act No. 45 of 1950)
PrecursorAir Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Air Force
Formation26 January 1950; 76 years ago (1950-01-26)
First holderAir Marshal Sir Thomas Elmhirst
DeputyVice Chief of Air Staff
Salary₹250,000 (US$3,500) monthly[1][2]
WebsiteOfficial website

The Chief of the Air Staff (India), known also as the Air Force Chief, is the chief commanding authority and head air marshal of the Indian Air Force. The COAS is the most senior member of the Air Force, and is usually the highest ranking air officer of the Indian Armed Forces unless the Chief of Defence is an officer of the aerial branch. The office holder is the chief adviser to the Minister of Defence on aerial affairs and heads the military staff of the Indian Air Force.

The current CAS is Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari who took office on 30 September 2021, following the retirement of Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.[3]

Office of the Chief of Air Staff

At Independence, the head of the Air Force designated as the "Air Marshal Commanding, Royal Indian Air Force". On 1 March 1948, the title of "Chief of the Air Staff" was added,[4] with a further re-designation to "Chief of the Air Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Air Force" on 21 June to maintain uniformity across the three armed services.[5]

The "Royal" designation was dropped when India became a republic on 26 January 1950. Thus re-designating the head of IAF to "Chief of the Air Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Air Force".

The Commanders-In-Chief (Change in Designation) Act, 1955 re-designated the head of IAF to "Chief of Air Staff". The position was held by a three-star ranked Air Marshal until 1966, when the position was upgraded to the four-star rank of an Air Chief Marshal.

Appointments to the office are made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). The CAS reaches superannuation upon three years in the office or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier.

Appointees

See also: RAF India § Commanders

The following tables chronicle the appointees to the office of the Chief of the Air Staff or its preceding positions since the independence of India.[6]

(**Seconded from the Royal Air Force)

Air Marshal Commanding, Royal Indian Air Force (1947–1948)

No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
1
Sir Thomas Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
Elmhirst, ThomasAir Marshal
Sir Thomas Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
(1895–1982)
[lower-alpha 1]		15 August 194720 June 1948310 days

Chief of the Air Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Air Force (1948–1950)

No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
1
Sir Thomas Elmhirst Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
Elmhirst, ThomasAir Marshal
Sir Thomas Elmhirst Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
(1895–1982)
[lower-alpha 1]		21 June 194825 January 19501 year, 218 days

Chief of the Air Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Air Force (1950–1955)

No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
1
Sir Thomas Elmhirst Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
Elmhirst, ThomasAir Marshal
Sir Thomas Elmhirst Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
(1895–1982)
[lower-alpha 1][7]		26 January 195023 February 195028 days
2
Sir Ronald Ivelaw-Chapman Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
Ivelaw-Chapman, RonaldAir Marshal
Sir Ronald Ivelaw-Chapman Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
(1899–1978)
[lower-alpha 1]		23 February 19509 December 19511 year, 289 days
3
Gerald Ernest Gibbs Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
Gibbs, GeraldAir Marshal
Gerald Ernest Gibbs Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
(1896–1992)
[lower-alpha 1]		10 December 195131 March 19542 years, 111 days
4
Subroto Mukerjee Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
Mukerjee, SubrotoAir Marshal
Subroto Mukerjee Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
(1911–1960)		1 April 195431 March 19551 year, 0 days

Chief of the Air Staff (1955–present)

No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
4
Subroto Mukerjee Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
Mukerjee, SubrotoAir Marshal
Subroto Mukerjee Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
(1911–1960)		1 April 19558 November 1960 †5 years, 221 days
5
Aspy Merwan Engineer Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
Engineer, AspyAir Marshal
Aspy Merwan Engineer Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
(1912–2002)		1 December 196031 July 19643 years, 243 days
6Singh, ArjanAir Chief Marshal
Arjan Singh Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
(1919–2017)		1 August 196415 July 19694 years, 348 days
7
Pratap Chandra Lal Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
Lal, PratapAir Chief Marshal
Pratap Chandra Lal Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/UK" does not exist.
(1916–1982)		16 July 196915 January 19733 years, 184 days
8
Om Prakash Mehra PVSM
Mehra, OmAir Chief Marshal
Om Prakash Mehra PVSM
(1919–2015)		16 January 197331 January 19763 years, 15 days
9Moolgavkar, HrushikeshAir Chief Marshal
Hrushikesh Moolgavkar PVSM, MVC
(1920–2015)		1 February 197630 August 19782 years, 241 days
10Latif, IdrisAir Chief Marshal
Idris Hasan Latif PVSM
(1923–2018)		1 September 197830 August 19813 years, 29 days
11
Dilbagh Singh PVSM, AVSM, VM
Singh, DilbaghAir Chief Marshal
Dilbagh Singh PVSM, AVSM, VM
(1926–2001)		1 September 19813 September 19843 years, 2 days
12
Lakshman Madhav Katre PVSM, AVSM
Katre, LakshmanAir Chief Marshal
Lakshman Madhav Katre PVSM, AVSM
(1926–1985)		3 September 19841 July 1985 †301 days
13
Denis Anthony La Fontaine PVSM, AVSM, VM
Fontaine, DenisAir Chief Marshal
Denis Anthony La Fontaine PVSM, AVSM, VM
(1929–2011)		3 July 198531 July 19883 years, 28 days
14
Surinder Kumar Mehra PVSM, AVSM, VM
Mehra, SurinderAir Chief Marshal
Surinder Kumar Mehra PVSM, AVSM, VM
(1932–2003)		1 August 198831 July 19912 years, 364 days
15
Nirmal Chandra Suri PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
Suri, NirmalAir Chief Marshal
Nirmal Chandra Suri PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
(born 1933)		31 July 199131 July 19932 years, 0 days
16Kaul, SwaroopAir Chief Marshal
Swaroop Krishna Kaul PVSM, MVC, ADC
(born 1935)		1 August 199331 December 19952 years, 152 days
17
Satish Kumar Sareen PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
Sareen, SatishAir Chief Marshal
Satish Kumar Sareen PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
(born 1939)		31 December 199531 December 19983 years, 0 days
18
Anil Yashwant Tipnis PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
Tipnis, AnilAir Chief Marshal
Anil Yashwant Tipnis PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
(born 1940)		31 December 199831 December 20013 years, 0 days
19Krishnaswamy, SrinivasapuramAir Chief Marshal
Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy PVSM, AVSM, VM
(born 1943)		31 December 200131 December 20043 years, 0 days
20
Shashindra Pal Tyagi PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
Tyagi, ShashindraAir Chief Marshal
Shashindra Pal Tyagi PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
(born 1945)		31 December 200431 March 20072 years, 90 days
21Major, FaliAir Chief Marshal
Fali Homi Major PVSM, AVSM, SC, VM, ADC
(born 1947)		31 March 200731 May 20092 years, 61 days
22
Pradeep Vasant Naik PVSM, VSM, ADC
Naik, PradeepAir Chief Marshal
Pradeep Vasant Naik PVSM, VSM, ADC
(born 1949)		31 May 200931 July 20112 years, 61 days
23Browne, NormanAir Chief Marshal
Norman Anil Kumar Browne PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
(born 1951)		31 July 201131 December 20132 years, 153 days
24Raha, ArupAir Chief Marshal
Arup Raha PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
(born 1954)		31 December 201331 December 20163 years, 0 days
25Dhanoa, BirenderAir Chief Marshal
Birender Singh Dhanoa PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VM, ADC
(born 1957)		31 December 201630 September 20192 years, 273 days
26Bhadauria, RakeshAir Chief Marshal
Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
(born 1959)		30 September 201930 September 20212 years, 0 days
27
Vivek Ram Chaudhari PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
Chaudhari, Vivek RamAir Chief Marshal
Vivek Ram Chaudhari PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
(born 1962)		30 September 2021Incumbent4 years, 318 days

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Seconded from the Royal Air Force

References

  1. ↑ "Report of the 7th Central Pay Commission of India" (PDF). Seventh Central Pay Commission, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Biswas, Shreya, ed. (29 June 2016). "7th Pay Commission cleared: What is the Pay Commission? How does it affect salaries?". India Today. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  3. ↑ Quint, The (21 September 2021). "Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari To Be Next Chief of Air Staff". TheQuint. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  4. ↑ "Press Communique" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 28 February 1948. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  5. ↑ "Press Communique" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 21 June 1948. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  6. ↑ "Chiefs of Air Staff". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  7. ↑ Chiefs of the Indian Air Force 1947 to Present Archived 26 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine

External links

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