Awadhesh Kumar Bharti

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Air Marshal
Awadhesh Kumar Bharti
SYSM AVSM VM
Air Marshal Bharti.jpg
Air Marshal Bharti during press briefing of Operation Sindoor
Deputy Chief of Air Staff
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 June 2025
Battles Operation Vijay
Operation Parakram
Operation Sindoor
Service number 18781 [1]
Awards

Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, SYSM, AVSM,VM is a serving air officer of the Indian Air Force. He is the currently serving as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. [2] He was previously serving as the Director General of Air Operations, [3] prior to that he was Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command. [4]

Contents

Early life and education

He was born in Purnia district of Bihar. [5] His father is Jiwachh Lal Yadav, a retired govt personnel of Kosi Project and his mother is Urmila Devi. [6] He is an alumnus of Sainik School, Tilaiya. [7] He then attended the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He was awarded the President’s Silver Medal at the National Defence Academy and was awarded the Sword of Honour for standing first in overall merit in his course at the Air Force Academy. He is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the National Defence College, New Delhi. [8] During his NDA days, Air Marshal Bharti was nicknamed ‘Galloping Horse’, as his cross country record there remained unbroken for many years. [9]

Military career

The Air Marshal was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 13 June 1987 from the Air Force Academy. In a career spanning over three decades, he has more than 4000 hours of flying experience across various fighter jets and has held numerous field & staff appointments. He is a highly experienced fighter pilot and has flown different types of aircraft like MIG-21, MIG-29 , SU-30MKI, SU-30MKM. He has led and also been a part of many IAF air exercises viz COPE India 2004, Exercise Garuda, Exercise Indradanush on foreign soils. [10] He has been the Flight Commander of No. 24 Squadron and Commanding Officer of No. 30 Squadron. [11] He was awarded with three stars for accident-free flying. The Air Marshal's operational tenures include being the Commanding Officer of a fighter squadron in the Southern Sector. His staff appointments include Air Attaché with Royal Malaysian Air Force where he trained the Malaysian Fighter Pilots on SU-30 MKM.

As an Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Chief Staff Officer (Air Vector Strategy) in Strategic Forces Command and later as Assistant Chief of Staff, Offensive Operations at Air Force Headquarters. [12]

After being promoted to the rank of Air Marshal, he was appointed as the Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command. A year later, on 3 October 2024, he assumed the appointment of Director General Air Operations from Air Marshal Surat Singh. [3] As the Director General of Air Operations,he played a key role in India's Operation Sindoor. On 1 June 2025, Air Marshal Bharti took over as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff succeeding Air Marshal Tejinder Singh. [13]

Awards and decorations

During his career, the air marshal has been awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal on Independence Day 2025, [14] the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024 [15] and the Vayu Sena Medal in 2008. [16] He has also received commendations from the Chief of Air Staff.

Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg
Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg IND Samanya Seva medal.svg IND Operation Vijay medal.svg
IND Operation Parakram medal.svg IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg 75yearmedal.svg
IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg
Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vayu Sena Medal Samanya Seva Medal Operation Vijay Medal
Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Anniversary of Independence Medal
50th Independence Anniversary Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Dates of ranks

InsigniaRankComponentDate of rank
Indian IAF OF-1a.svg Pilot Officer Indian Air Force13 June 1987 [11]
Indian IAF OF-1b.svg Flying Officer Indian Air Force13 June 1988 [11]
Indian IAF OF-2.svg Flight Lieutenant Indian Air Force13 June 1992 [11]
Indian IAF OF-3.svg Squadron Leader Indian Air Force13 June 1998 [11]
Indian IAF OF-4.svg Wing Commander Indian Air Force11 May 2004 [11]
Indian IAF OF-5.svg Group Captain Indian Air Force1 June 2009 (acting 13 Sep 2010) [11]
Indian IAF OF-6.svg Air Commodore Indian Air Force17 June 2013 [11]
Indian IAF OF-7.svg Air Vice Marshal Indian Air Force4 December 2019 [11]
Indian IAF OF-8.svg Air Marshal Indian Air Force1 September 2023 [11]

References

  1. ↑ "President approves 127 Gallantry awards, 40 Distinguished Service awards & 290 Mention-in-Despatches on the eve of 79th Independence Day". PIB Delhi. 14 August 2025.
  2. ↑ "On being appointed as Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal AK Bharti, AVSM, VM, paid homage to fallen soldiers at National War Memorial. Saluting before the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the DCAS expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Bravehearts for their gallant service". X.com. 1 June 2025. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  3. 1 2 MCC, IAF (3 October 2024). "Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti assumed the position of Director General Air Operations today". x.com.
  4. ↑ "Central Air Command, Indian Air Force - Database". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  5. ↑ Yadav, Jyoti (25 May 2025). "Sainik School to Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal Bharti is Purnea's pride. 'See! He is on TV'". ThePrint. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  6. ↑ "Operation Sindoor: He Stayed True To His Childhood Resolve, Says DG Air Ops Bharti's Mother". News18. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  7. ↑ "Air Marshal AK Bharti, SYSM,AVSM,VM Deputy Chief of the Air Staff visited Sainik School Tilaiya to pay tribute to his teachers and the almamater. He motivated cadets in a Special Assembly to serve the Nation in Uniform and challenge their limits to the brim to achieve all targets". X. 22 September 2025. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "Op Sindoor architect Air Marshal Bharti gives fresh fame and pride to parents and Purnia". Hindustan Times. 12 May 2025. Archived from the original on 12 May 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  9. ↑ Kumar, Ruchir (12 May 2025). "Op Sindoor architect Air Marshal Bharti gives fresh fame and pride to parents and Purnia". Hindustan Times.
  10. ↑ Bharat, E. T. V. (13 May 2025). "A Mother's Ardent Wish Gave India Her Brave Air Marshal AK Bharti, Who Played Vital Role In Operation Sindoor". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Service Record for Air Marshal Awadesh Kumar Bharti 18781 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  12. ↑ "Strategic Forces Command, Indian Air Force - Database". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti Appointed Deputy Chief of Air Staff of IAF - SSBCrack News". 13 June 2025. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  14. ↑ "President approves 127 Gallantry awards, 40 Distinguished Service awards & 290 Mention-in-Despatches on the eve of 79th Independence Day". PIB Delhi. 14 August 2025.
  15. ↑ "75th Republic Day: President approves Gallantry awards to 80 Armed Forces personnel, including 12 posthumous". PIB. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  16. ↑ "Republic Day gallantry and other Defence decorations 2008". PIB. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
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