Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia: New Vice Chief of the Air Staff

In October 2026, Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia was appointed as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) of the Indian Air Force. He will assume office on 1 November 2026.

Key Facts

Previous Post: Prior to this appointment, Walia served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Eastern Air Command.
Commencement of Service: An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Walia was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 11 June 1988.
Flying Experience: He has extensive flying experience across various variants of fighter aircraft, including the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, Jaguar, and Su-30 MKI.
Key Commands: Walia has commanded a fighter squadron, the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), and Air Force Station Bareilly.
Honours: For his distinguished military service, Walia was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (VM) in 2008 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2018.