Pariksha SaathiAir Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal takes over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command
Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal, AVSM, VM, assumed the appointment of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Eastern Air Command, IAF, on 1 November 2026. Commissioned in the flying branch of the IAF as a fighter pilot on 14 June 1989, he has flying experience of over 3,200 hours on a number of fighter aircraft, is a specialist in strike aircraft and Air Defence roles and a qualified Pilot Attack Instructor, and is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the National Defence College. His field and staff appointments include Air Officer Commanding of two flying bases and Commanding Officer of a fighter squadron; he was posted at the Embassy of India in Pakistan as the Air Attaché and has served as Director General (Weapon Systems) at Air HQ. Before taking over, he was Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at HQ South Western Air Command. He has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vayu Sena Medal.
Drafted with AI assistance from the official PIB release linked above and checked against it by a second AI pass. Not line-edited by a human.
Learning context
PIB Shillong's Air Force Day release of 7 October 2023 says the Indian Air Force was officially established on 8 October 1932 and is divided into 7 Commands. Headquartered at Upper Shillong, the Eastern Air Command (EAC) controls air operations over 12 states, including the seven north-eastern states, Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar and parts of Odisha and Jharkhand, and its area of responsibility includes a 6300 km long international boundary with China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. EAC began as No. 1 Operational Group on 27 May 1958, based at Ranikutir in Kolkata, and was upgraded to a Command on 1 December 1959 with headquarters at Fort William, Kolkata; after the 1962 Indo-Chinese War, the decision was made to raise a full-fledged Command at Shillong. Its motto is 'Samareshu Parakram' (Valour in Battle).
Check yourself: where is the Eastern Air Command headquartered, and what is its motto?
At Upper Shillong; 'Samareshu Parakram' (Valour in Battle).
Revision task: from this release, note the command and appointment, the date, his date of commission, flying experience and specialisations, his earlier posts and his post before taking over, and his awards; from the note, EAC's headquarters, the states and boundary it covers, its origin and upgrade dates, and its motto.
Test yourself
On 1 November 2026, Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal assumed the appointment of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of which IAF command?
Show the answer
Answer: Eastern Air Command
Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal, AVSM, VM, assumed the appointment of AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command, on 1 November 2026. Before that he was Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at HQ South Western Air Command. He was commissioned as a fighter pilot on 14 June 1989.
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