Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS), with effect from November 1, 2026. He currently serves as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force (IAF).Air Marshal Walia will succeed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who will take over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on October 31, 2026.An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Air Marshal Walia was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on June 11, 1988.
Over a career spanning nearly four decades, he has held several important command and staff appointments.He is qualified to fly all variants of the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, Jaguar and Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. His operational and leadership experience includes commanding a frontline fighter squadron, the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), and Air Force Station Bareilly as its Air Officer Commanding.
Air Marshal Walia has also served in several key administrative and strategic roles within the IAF. He headed the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection (DASI) and served as the Senior Air Staff Officer of the Eastern Air Command.His international assignments include serving as Defence Attache at the Indian Embassy in Japan and South Korea.
He has also undergone the Advanced Command and Staff Course in the United Kingdom and the National Defence College (NDC) course in Bangladesh. Apart from his military career, Air Marshal Walia is an avid reader and holds three postgraduate degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies.In recognition of his distinguished service, he received the Vayu Sena Medal (VM) in 2008 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2018.His appointment as Vice Chief of the Air Staff comes as the Indian Air Force prepares for a leadership transition, with Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit set to assume charge as the country's 29th Chief of the Air Staff on October 31, 2026.- Ends