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Some Lesser Known Facts About Nagesh Kapoor

• Nagesh Kapoor graduated from the National Defence Academy in December 1985 after completing pre-commission military training.

• He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 06 December 1986 in the fighter stream of the Flying Branch.

• As a young officer, he qualified as a fighter pilot, Qualified Flying Instructor, and Fighter Combat Leader.

• He flew all variants of MiG-21 and MiG-29 aircraft during operational and instructional flying assignments.

• By mid-career, he had logged over 2,700 hours of accident-free flying across multiple fighter and trainer aircraft.

  

• He served as Flight Commander of a MiG-29 squadron during early operational command appointments.

• During this tenure, he was deployed for six months at a forward air base during Operation Parakram.

• He later served as Senior Flight Safety and Inspection Officer at Air Force Station Adampur.

• During this period, the station recorded zero accidents or incidents attributed to human error. He subsequently assumed command as Commanding Officer of a MiG-21 squadron.

  

• Under his command, the squadron recorded significantly higher annual flying hours compared to the previous year.

• For nearly one year, all squadron pilots remained fully operational with current instrument flying ratings. The squadron maintained a zero-accident flying record throughout his command tenure.

• His squadron competed against Mirage and Jaguar units during the Command Gunnery Meet and won team events.

• He led the squadron through inspections, detachments, and a merger with another MiG-21 unit without operational degradation.

• He completed the Defence Services Staff College course in 2003, topping the course during his academic tenure.

• He later attended the National Defence College as part of advanced professional military education. His instructional appointments included Chief Instructor Flying at the Air Force Academy and Directing Staff at DSSC Wellington.

• During his tenure at the Air Force Academy, he oversaw the induction and operationalisation of the PC-7 Mk II aircraft.

• He served on a diplomatic assignment as Defence Attaché to Pakistan during a staff posting abroad.

• His senior staff roles included Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations Strategy and Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel at Air Headquarters.

• He later served as Air Defence Commander at South Western Air Command and Senior Air Staff Officer at Central Air Command Headquarters.

• He was appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Training Command, followed by South Western Air Command headquartered at Gandhinagar.

• As AOC-in-C South Western Air Command, he led Indian Air Force operations during Operation Sindoor between 6 May and 10 May.

• For leadership during Operation Sindoor, he was awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal by the President of India.

• On 1 January 2026, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor SYSM PVSM AVSM VM assumed charge as Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

  

• He succeeded Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, who superannuated after completing over forty years of Indian Air Force service.

  

• On the same date, Air Marshal Tejinder Singh assumed charge as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command.

• Air Marshal Seethepalli Shrinivas also took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Training Command on 1 January 2026.