Air Marshal Seethepalli Shrinivas assumes charge as AOC-in-C of IAF Training Command

Air Marshal Seethepalli Shrinivas has taken over as the new Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Training Command of the Indian Air Force, assuming charge on January 1, 2026, at Bengaluru. In an official ceremony marking the change of command, the senior IAF officer paid homage to the nation’s brave air warriors by laying a wreath at the Training Command War Memorial, reinforcing the deep respect the service holds for its fallen personnel.

The Training Command, headquartered in Bengaluru, is a vital operational arm of the Indian Air Force responsible for overseeing flying and ground training of pilots, technical crew, and support staff. It plays a central role in shaping future-ready air warriors and ensuring that the force maintains high standards of skill, discipline, and operational readiness.

Must Know: Air Marshal Shrinivas is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on 13 June 1987.

Air Marshal Shrinivas, an alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy, was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on June 13, 1987, and brings with him a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades. He is a ‘Category A’ Qualified Flying Instructor with more than 4,200 hours of flying experience on a broad range of aircraft, including the MiG-21, Iskra, Kiran, PC-7 Mk II, HPT-32 and microlight aircraft, showcasing his extensive operational and instructional expertise. Beyond fixed-wing aircraft, he is also qualified as a second pilot on Chetak and Cheetah helicopters and holds a qualification as a categorised Operations Officer on the Pechora missile system, underlining his multifaceted skill set.

During his service, Air Marshal Shrinivas has held a variety of significant command and staff appointments that reflect both depth and diversity in leadership. His command experience includes serving as Commandant of the Air Force Academy, where future officers are trained, Air Officer Commanding of a frontline fighter base on India’s western border, as well as leadership of a premier flying training base. He has also been responsible for the advanced headquarters of the Western Air Command at Jaipur, the Flying Instructors’ School, the Institute of Aerospace Safety, and the Basic Flying Training School, which are foundational to the IAF’s instructional ecosystem.

In staff roles, Air Marshal Shrinivas has further contributed to the IAF’s human resource and operational capabilities. He has been Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Personnel Officers), Chief Instructor (Flying) at the Air Force Academy, part of the Operations Staff at Headquarters Central Air Command, and Directing Staff at the College of Air Warfare. Immediately prior to his new appointment, he served as the Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters South Western Air Command, where he was involved in operational planning and strategic oversight.

Academically as well as operationally accomplished, Air Marshal Shrinivas is a graduate of the National Defence College, the College of Defence Management and the Defence Services Staff College. He holds advanced academic qualifications, including a Master of Philosophy in Defence and Strategic Studies, a Master of Management Studies, and a Master of Science in Defence and Strategic Studies — degrees that complement his leadership roles by strengthening his strategic and analytical capabilities.

His distinguished service to the nation has been recognised through prestigious military honours. He was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2017 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024, honours conferred by the President of India for distinguished and exceptional service, underscoring his commitment to excellence in military duty.

The change in leadership at Training Command also follows a broader reshuffle in the Indian Air Force’s senior hierarchy, with other key appointments including Air Marshal Tejinder Singh becoming the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Air Command and Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor taking over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, underscoring a period of transition at the highest levels of the force.

For NDA aspirants and students preparing for competitive exams, leadership changes such as this are not just important current affairs events but also enrich understanding of the structure and functioning of India’s defence institutions. The role of an AOC-in-C, particularly of the Training Command, is central to the development of future officers and personnel — an area frequently highlighted in the General Awareness and Defence sections of examinations. Familiarity with such appointments, career profiles of senior officers, and the organisational framework of the armed forces enhances preparation for topics related to national security and defence services.

Air Marshal Shrinivas’s appointment comes at a time when the Indian Air Force continues to adapt and modernise its training doctrines to meet evolving strategic challenges, ensuring that its personnel are equipped with modern combat skills and technologies. Under his leadership, the Training Command is expected to continue its mission of excellence in training, capacity building and instructional innovation, influencing how the IAF nurtures talent and prepares the next generation of air warriors.

SRC: PIB & DD News