Arup Raha Biography 
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha winner of PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC is the 21st Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force took over the post on 31st December 2013. Arup Raha was born on 26 December 1954 in Baidyabati of Hoogly district under Metropolitan Development Authority of Kolkata in West Bengal state. His father Nanigopal Raha was a reputed doctor who served in Myanmar in World War II. Arup Raha had his initial schooling at Baidyabati and studied at Sainik School, Purulia (1970 batch).
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha went under training at the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla in July 1970 and completed it in June 1973. Arup was selected the Best Cadet for 44th NDA course. Arup Raha 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 MiG-21 fighter pilot in Dec 1974. ACM Arup Raha has also commanded a MiG-29 fighter squadron and two frontline airbases along India's Western front. The other aircrafts flown by ACM Raha include MiG-21, MiG-29, Il-76, Dassault, Rafale and HAL HT-2.
Arup Raha is a fighter pilot with a record of over 3,400 flying hours experience. Before taking command of the Indian Air Force he has served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Western Air Command and Central Air Command. Arup Raha has also served as the Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters, Western Air Command and Deputy Commandant at Air Force Academy, Hyderabad. Thus our current Air Chief has held many important staff appointments in India and abroad.
Published: N/A
Updated: October 11, 2015
