New Delhi, November 1, 2026 — Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who assumed charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force on October 31, 2026, has switched to an electric vehicle (EV) as his official mode of transport. The move, widely reported by ANI and national media, is being viewed as a deliberate step toward greener mobility and environmental conservation at the start of his tenure.
Air Chief Marshal Dixit took over from Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh (AP Singh), who superannuated after 42 years of distinguished service. Visuals circulating on Saturday and Sunday showed the new Chief arriving and departing in a black electric SUV bearing official IAF markings, with personnel in attendance. While the specific model of the vehicle has not been officially confirmed in public releases, the choice has been framed by reports as an embrace of “the future of sustainable mobility.”
Background of the New Chief
Born on December 9, 1966, Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was commissioned into the Fighter Stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (69th Course), the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Bangladesh, and the National Defence College, New Delhi, he is an Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor with more than 3,300–3,500 flying hours. His flying experience covers the Mirage-2000, various MiG variants, Jaguar, Tejas, Hawk, and transport aircraft.
He has held key command and staff appointments, including command of a Mirage-2000 squadron and Air Force Station Bidar, Air Defence Commander of Southern Air Command, Senior Air Staff Officer at South Western Air Command, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command, and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (a role he held during Operation Sindoor). He served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff before his elevation. He is a recipient of the Vayu Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and Param Vishisht Seva Medal. His operational experience includes Operation Safed Sagar (Kargil), Operation Rakshak, and Operation Sindoor.
Context of Green Mobility in the Armed Forces
The Indian Air Force has progressively adopted electric vehicles in line with the national objective of reducing the carbon footprint and promoting green mobility. In November 2022, then Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari flagged off the first batch of Tata Nexon EVs at Vayu Bhawan for use in the Delhi NCR area, with plans to expand charging infrastructure and induct more EVs against conventional vehicles. More recently, the IAF has used Tata Nexon EVs for administrative duties, and the previous Chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, had flagged off the “Shaurya Bharat EV Drive” to promote sustainability alongside military heritage.
The broader armed forces are also advancing EV adoption for non-combat roles in peace stations, including electric buses and light vehicles, to cut fossil-fuel dependence and operational costs while aligning with India’s long-term net-zero goals. Air Chief Marshal Dixit’s choice of an EV for official use continues this institutional direction and signals a personal commitment to environmental conservation from the highest level of the Indian Air Force.
