Indian Armed Forces Recently Undergo Leadership Reshuffle: Tiwari, Dixit & Sharma Appointed to Key Top Posts.
Appointment
In April 2025, the Indian Armed Forces underwent a major leadership reshuffle across three critical divisions—the Indian Air Force (IAF), Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), and the Indian Army's Northern Command. These leadership changes officially took effect on 1st May 2025, signifying a strategic transition in top military roles.
- In the Indian Air Force, Air Marshal Narmadeshwar Tiwari took charge as the 49th Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS). He succeeded Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar, who retired on 30th April 2025 after a distinguished 40-year service career.
- Prior to this elevation, Air Marshal Tiwari served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the South Western Air Command (SWAC) based in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. His leadership has been marked by operational excellence and administrative capability.
- Air Marshal Tiwari has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2025)—the highest peacetime military decoration of the Indian Armed Forces. He was also awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022 and the Vayu Sena Medal in 2008.
Main Point :- (i) Over at the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was appointed as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) on 1st May 2025. He succeeded Lieutenant General Johnson P Matthew, who retired a day earlier.
(ii) Air Marshal Dixit previously served as the AOC-in-C of Central Air Command in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. His decorated career includes the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023), Vayu Sena Medal (2006), and Vishisht Seva Medal (2011), recognizing his strategic and operational contributions.
(iii) In the Indian Army, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma was named the new General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Northern Command, headquartered in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir. He succeeded Lt Gen MV Suchendra Kumar, who also retired on 30th April 2025. Lt Gen Sharma had previously served as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) and Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), and was recently honored with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2025).
About Indian Air Force (IAF)
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) : Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh
Headquarters: New Delhi
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