Years of service 1975- Rank Air chief marshal | Spouse Lily Raha Name Arup Raha Allegiance India | |
Commands held AOC-in-C, Western Air CommandAOC-in-C, Central Air Command47 Squadron IAF Awards Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM) Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM) Vayusena Medal(VM)ADC |
Arup raha to be new indian air force chief his family s reaction
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC was the 24th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force and server from 31 December 2013 to 31 December 2016. He was also the Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, a post occupied by India’s senior-most military officer, who advises the government and ensures jointsmanship in the armed forces.
Contents
- Arup raha to be new indian air force chief his family s reaction
- Walk The Talk With Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha
- Early life and education
- Military Training
- Military career
- References
Walk The Talk With Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha
Early life and education

Air Chief Marshal Raha was born in a Bengali family on 26 December 1954 in the city of Baidyabati, an area under the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority which is in the Indian State of West Bengal. His father was a reputed doctor. He was educated at Sainik School Purulia (1970 batch).
Military Training

Raha was trained at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, India, from July 1970 to June 1973, and at the time of graduating from NDA in June 1973, he was awarded the Gold Medal for being the best cadet of the 44th NDA course. Subsequently, he did flying training on HT-2 and Kiran ( HJT-16 ) at the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, before being commissioned into the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in Dec 1974. After flying Hunters in Operational Conversion Unit, he went on to fly Mig -21 aircraft.
Military career

Raha has flown a wide variety of combat and trainer aircraft. After initial training on the HAL HT-2, he has flown the MIG-21 and MIG-29 aircraft and has commanded a MiG-29 fighter squadron and two frontline airbases along India's Western front. As on April 2, 2010, he had 3,400 hours of flying experience. Raha previously served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force and as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Western Air Command, and that of the Central Air Command. He has also served as the Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters, Western Air Command and Deputy Commandant at Air Force Academy, Hyderabad.

Raha has held many important staff appointments in India and abroad.


