Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia appointed Vice Chief of Air Staff
By Aroonim Bhuyan
New Delhi. Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, currently heading the Indian Air Force’s Eastern Air Command, has been appointed the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS), with effect from November 1, 2026, the Ministry of Defence announced on October 30.
He will succeed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who is set to assume charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on October 31.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Walia was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on June 11, 1988. During his nearly four-decade-long career, he has flown several frontline combat aircraft, including all variants of the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, Jaguar and Su-30MKI.
The senior officer has held a wide range of operational, command and staff appointments. His command assignments include a frontline fighter squadron, the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) and Air Force Station Bareilly, where he served as Air Officer Commanding.
His professional training includes the Advanced Command and Staff Course in the United Kingdom and the National Defence College (NDC) course in Bangladesh. He has also headed the IAF’s Directorate of Air Staff Inspection (DASI), served as Defence Attache at India’s diplomatic missions in Japan and South Korea, and held the position of Senior Air Staff Officer at Eastern Air Command.
An avid reader, Air Marshal Walia holds three postgraduate degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies, reflecting his academic engagement with military affairs and strategic issues.
In recognition of his distinguished service, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (VM) in 2008 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2018.
His appointment as Vice Chief comes at a significant juncture for the IAF, with a leadership transition at its highest level scheduled for October 31, when Air Marshal Dixit takes over as the Chief of the Air Staff.
