Air Marshal Vivek Hande has been appointed as the Director General Medical Services (Air) for the Indian Air Force, the Ministry of Defence announced on September 1, 2026. He takes up the role on permanent secondment, bringing with him experience across all three branches of India’s defence establishment.
About the appointment
Air Marshal Hande was commissioned into military service in December 1988. He trained at the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune, the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, and the National Defence College in New Delhi. He holds the decorations AVSM (Ati Vishisht Seva Medal) and VSM (Vishisht Seva Medal).
Before this posting, he served as a Flag Officer commanding the Indian Naval Hospital Ship Asvini and later held the position of Senior Consultant Medicine. Upon promotion to Vice Admiral rank, he worked as Director General (Organisation and Personnel) in the Office of the Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services.
Air Marshal Hande is a gastroenterologist with a national standing in his medical field. Throughout his career, he has held various specialist and administrative positions across different arms of the defence forces.
What this means for you
The appointment signals continuity in India’s defence medical leadership, with an officer who has worked across the Navy, Army, and now Air Force taking charge of medical services for the air arm. Citizens and defence personnel relying on Air Force medical facilities will benefit from his experience managing healthcare across multiple defence services. The move reflects the government’s emphasis on maintaining professional standards in defence administration through promotions based on proven track record and cross-service expertise.