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Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia has taken over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Air Force's Eastern Air Command as of February 1. A National Defence Academy alumnus, he was commissioned into the Fighter stream on June 11, 1988, and is qualified on multiple aircraft including MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, Jaguar, and Su-30 MKI, with over 3,200 hours of safe flying.

Throughout his 30-year career, he has held various command roles, including leading a MiG-27 Squadron and serving as Air Officer Commanding of a frontline base. His notable positions include Defence Attache in Japan and South Korea, and prior to his new role, he was the Senior Air Staff Officer at the Eastern Air Command. He succeeds Air Marshal Surat Singh, who retired on January 31, 2026, after 39 years of service.