The Chief of the Air Staff (India), known also as the Air Force Chief, has been the title of the professional head of the Indian Air Force since 1950. The CAS is a statutory position in the Indian Armed Forces held by the most senior officer of the Air Force, and is usually the highest ranking air officer of the Indian Armed Forces unless the Chief of Defence Staff is an officer of the aerial branch. The current CAS is Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari who took office on 30 September 2021, following the retirement of Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.
