Air Marshal Tejpal Singh Takes Charge as Deputy Air Chief
Air Marshal Tejpal Singh Appointed Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
New Delhi, August 1: Air Marshal Tejpal Singh has taken charge as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, one of the Indian Air Force’s senior leadership positions. He assumed the appointment on August 1, 2026, following the retirement of Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti on July 31 after 39 years of service. The change comes at a time when the Indian Air Force is working to strengthen its combat readiness, modernise its aircraft fleet and prepare for future security challenges.
Soon after taking charge, Air Marshal Tejpal Singh visited the National War Memorial in New Delhi, where he laid a wreath in memory of members of the armed forces who lost their lives while serving the country. The ceremony is a long-standing military tradition that marks the beginning of many senior command appointments and reflects the armed forces’ commitment to honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on June 16, 1990, Air Marshal Singh brings more than three decades of operational and leadership experience to his new role. During his flying career, he has logged more than 3,500 hours in operational, training and test flying. He is a Category A Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot, qualifications held by a limited number of officers who train fighter pilots and evaluate aircraft and aviation systems before they enter operational service.
Throughout his career, he has served in several operational, command and staff appointments across the Indian Air Force. Such roles typically involve leading frontline units, planning air operations, overseeing personnel and equipment, and contributing to long-term capability planning at Air Headquarters. Before this appointment, he served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans), where he was involved in planning future force development and capability requirements for the service.
Air Marshal Singh has also completed advanced professional military education in India and overseas. Public records show that he is an alumnus of the French Command and Staff College, the Naval War College and the National Defence College. These institutions prepare senior officers for higher command responsibilities, defence planning and joint military operations involving the Army, Navy and Air Force.
His service has been recognised with two of the Indian Air Force’s distinguished peacetime honours. He received the Vayu Sena Medal in January 2011 for professional excellence and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2021 for distinguished service of an exceptional order. Both decorations were awarded by the President of India.
The Deputy Chief of the Air Staff is among the most senior appointments at Air Headquarters. The officer holding this position assists the Chief of the Air Staff in managing operational preparedness, capability planning, force development and the induction of new technologies. The post also plays a major part in coordinating modernisation programmes, infrastructure planning and long-term policy decisions that shape the future of the Indian Air Force.
The appointment comes during an important phase for the service. The Indian Air Force continues to pursue modernisation through the induction of new aircraft, weapons, sensors and network-based capabilities while replacing ageing platforms. Programmes involving the LCA Tejas, upgrades to existing fighter aircraft, advanced air defence systems and future indigenous projects remain central to India’s efforts to strengthen air power. Senior officers at Air Headquarters help guide these programmes alongside operational planning and training.
Leadership continuity remains an important feature of the armed forces. Air Marshal Tejpal Singh succeeds Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, who retired on July 31, 2026, after nearly four decades in uniform. During his career, Air Marshal Bharti held several important operational and staff appointments before serving as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. His retirement marks the end of 39 years of military service.
The Indian Air Force regularly rotates senior commanders into key appointments as officers retire, ensuring that experienced leaders continue to guide operational planning and organisational development. Such changes are part of the service’s established succession system and are intended to maintain continuity across command, administration and strategic planning.
Air Marshal Tejpal Singh now joins the senior leadership team headed by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh. Together with other senior commanders, he will help oversee one of the world’s largest air forces, responsible for protecting India’s airspace, supporting joint military operations and responding to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions when required.
His experience as a fighter pilot, flying instructor, experimental test pilot and senior planner places him in a position that combines operational knowledge with strategic decision-making. As the Indian Air Force continues to expand its capabilities and adapt to changing security requirements, the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff will remain closely involved in decisions that influence training, force structure, procurement and operational preparedness for the years ahead.