New Delhi, November 1, 2026 — The Indian Air Force’s newly appointed Chief has begun his tenure with a visible shift toward cleaner transport. Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who took charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on October 31, 2026, has reportedly chosen an electric vehicle as his official mode of travel, a move being read as support for greener mobility and environmental conservation.
According to reports carried by ANI and other national media, Air Chief Marshal Dixit was seen arriving and leaving in a black electric SUV with official IAF markings. Personnel were present in the visuals circulating on Saturday and Sunday. The specific vehicle model has not been officially confirmed in public releases.
Profile of Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit
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. He is 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 background includes the Mirage-2000, various MiG variants, Jaguar, Tejas, Hawk, and transport aircraft.
His service record includes command of a Mirage-2000 squadron and Air Force Station Bidar, as well as appointments such as 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. He held that last role during Operation Sindoor. Before becoming Chief of the Air Staff, he served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
He has been awarded 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.
What the EV Move Signals
The Air Force has been gradually increasing the use of electric vehicles in line with the national push to reduce carbon emissions and encourage 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 alongside conventional vehicles.
More recently, the IAF has used Tata Nexon EVs for administrative duties, while the previous Chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, had flagged off the “Shaurya Bharat EV Drive” to promote sustainability alongside military heritage. Air Chief Marshal Dixit’s use of an EV continues that institutional direction at the top level.
The broader armed forces are also moving toward EVs for non-combat roles in peace stations, including electric buses and light vehicles, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower operating costs while supporting India’s long-term net-zero goals. In this context, the new Chief’s choice is being seen as a personal endorsement of environmental conservation as well as a continuation of the Air Force’s ongoing mobility transition.
