Tradeunofabrics at 01:52, 23 March 2026

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{{Short description|Former chief of the Indian Air Force}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]] (Retd.)
| name = Arup Raha
| native_name = অরূপ রাহা
| native_name_lang = bn
| honorific_suffix = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal|AVSM]], [[Vayu Sena Medal|VM]], [[Aide-de-camp|ADC]]
| image = ACM Arup Raha.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2014
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1954|12|26}}
| spouse = Lily Raha
| children = Atanu Raha, Anusree Raha
| office = 54th [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]]
| term_start = 31 July 2014
| term_end = 31 December 2016
| president = [[Pranab Mukherjee]]
| predecessor = [[Bikram Singh (general, born 1952)|Bikram Singh]]
| successor = [[Sunil Lanba]]
| office1 = 21st [[Chief of Air Staff (India)|Chief of Air Staff]]
| term_start1 = 31 December 2013<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 December 2013 |title=Arup Raha takes over as IAF chief |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-31/india/45738689_1_iaf-chief-combat-development-establishment-air-marshal-arup-raha |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101204421/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-31/india/45738689_1_iaf-chief-combat-development-establishment-air-marshal-arup-raha |archive-date=1 January 2014}}</ref>
| term_end1 = 31 December 2016
| president1 = [[Pranab Mukherjee]]
| predecessor1 = [[Norman Anil Kumar Browne]]
| successor1 = [[Birender Singh Dhanoa]]
| office2 = 37th [[Vice Chief of Air Staff (India)|Vice Chief of Air Staff]]
| term_start2 = 1 July 2013
| term_end2 = 31 December 2013
| president2 = [[Pranab Mukherjee]]
| predecessor2 = Dinesh Chandra Kumaria
| successor2 = Ravi Kant Sharma
| birth_place = [[Baidyabati]], [[West Bengal]], India
| allegiance = {{flag|India}}
| branch = {{air force|India}}
| service_years = 1975–2016
| rank = [[File:Indian IAF OF-9.svg|25px]] [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]<ref name="thehindu1">{{cite news|title=Arup Raha takes over as IAF chief|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/arup-raha-takes-over-as-iaf-chief/article5522301.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=31 December 2013|location=Chennai, India|date=31 December 2013}}</ref>
| commands = [[Western Air Command]]<br />[[Central Air Command (India)|Central Air Command]]<br />[[Bathinda Airport|AFS Bathinda]] <br />[[Adampur Air Force Base|AFS Adampur]]<br />47 Squadron IAF
| battles = [[Kargil War]]
| military_blank2 = Awards
| military_data2 = {{plainlist|
* [[File:Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
* [[File:Ati_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
* [[File:Vayusena_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Vayu Sena Medal]]<ref name="CAC">{{Cite web |title=Central Air Command |url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_command.php?pg_id=28&page_type=command&comm_id=3# |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814215441/http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_command.php?pg_id=28&page_type=command&comm_id=3 |archive-date=14 August 2012 |access-date=23 June 2012 |publisher=Indianairforce.nic.in}}</ref>
}}
| Callsign =
| image_size = 220px
}}
'''Arup Raha''', [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal|AVSM]], [[Vayusena Medal|VM]], [[Aide-de-camp|ADC]], ({{langx|bn|অরূপ রাহা}}) is an Indian Air Force veteran and was the 21st [[Chief of Air Staff (India)|Chief of the Air Staff]] of the [[Indian Air Force]] and served from 31 December 2013 to 31 December 2016.<ref name="thehindu1"/> He was also the [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]], a post occupied by India's senior-most military officer, who advises the government and ensures jointsmanship in the armed forces.<ref name="Chairman of COSC">{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/422782/arup-raha-chief-staff.html |title=Arup Raha is new chief of staff|work=Deccan Herald|access-date=30 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="toi1">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-04-02/india/28120024_1_western-front-western-air-command-mig-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227063717/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-04-02/india/28120024_1_western-front-western-air-command-mig-29 |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 December 2013 |title=Arup Raha takes over as senior Air Staff Officer at WAC|date=2 April 2010 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=23 June 2012}}</ref> Currently, he is the [[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]] of [[Assam University]].

== Early life and education ==

Raha was born in a [[Bengalis|Bengali]] [[Bengali Kayastha|Kayastha]] family on 26 December 1954 in the city of [[Baidyabati]], [[West Bengal]]. His father was a doctor. He was educated at [[Sainik School Purulia]] (1970 batch).<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 October 2013 |title=Air Marshal Arup Raha to be IAF Chief |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/air-marshal-arup-raha-to-be-iaf-chief/1188816/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Jayanta Gupta|date=26 January 2012|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-26/kolkata/30666563_1_cadets-sainik-schools-ssb-interview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104022527/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-26/kolkata/30666563_1_cadets-sainik-schools-ssb-interview |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Sainik School in Purulia turns 50, Air Marshal to be chief guest|accessdate=23 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rohila |first=Naresh |date=5 June 2019 |title=Service Record for Arup Raha |url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/indianairforce/database/13910#google_vignette |url-access=registration |url-status=live |website=Bharatrakshak.com}}</ref>

==Military training==

Raha was trained at the [[National Defence Academy]], Khadakwasla, India, from July 1970 to June 1973, and at the time of graduating from NDA in June 1973, he was awarded the Gold Medal for being the best cadet of the 44th NDA course. Subsequently, he did flying training on HT-2 and Kiran ( HJT-16 ) at the [[Air Force Academy, Dundigul|Air Force Academy, Hyderabad]], before being commissioned into the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in Dec 1974. After flying Hunters in Operational Conversion Unit, he went on to fly Mig -21 aircraft.

==Military career==
Raha has flown a wide variety of combat and trainer aircraft. After initial training on the [[HAL HT-2]], he has flown the [[MIG-21]] and [[MIG-29]] aircraft and has commanded a [[MiG-29]] fighter squadron and two frontline airbases along India's Western front. As on 2 April 2010, he had 3,400 hours of flying experience.<ref name="toi1"/> Raha previously served as the [[Vice Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Air Staff]] of the [[Indian Air Force]]<ref name="VCOAS">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/air-marshal-arup-raha-to-take-over-as-iaf-vice-chief/article4866206.ece|title=Air Marshal Arup Raha to take over as IAF Vice Chief|date=30 June 2013 |accessdate=3 July 2013}}</ref> and as the [[Air officer commanding|Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] (AOC-in-C) of the [[Western Air Command]],<ref name="CAC"/> and that of the [[Central Air Command (India)|Central Air Command]].<ref name="toi1" /> He has also served as the Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters, Western Air Command and Deputy Commandant at [[Air Force Academy, Dundigul|Air Force Academy, Hyderabad]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_page.php?pg_id=18 |title=Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha's official profile |access-date=18 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217061546/http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_page.php?pg_id=18 |archive-date=17 February 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Raha has held many important staff appointments in India and abroad.

[[File:Air Chief calls on PM Modi on 3 June 2014 .jpg|250px|thumbnail|Air Chief calls on PM [[Narendra Modi]]]]

===Notable appointments held===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name of Appointment !! Rank !!Insignia !!Period
|-
| [[Chief of Air Staff (India)|Chief of Air Staff]] || [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]||[[File:Indian IAF OF-9.svg|64x64px]]|| 31 December 2013 to 31 December 2016
|-
| Vice Chief of Air Staff || [[Air Marshal]]||[[File:Indian IAF OF-8.svg|64x64px]]|| 1 July 2013 to 31 Dec 2013
|-
| Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the [[Western Air Command (India)|Western Air Command]] of the [[Indian Air Force|IAF]] || [[Air Marshal]]|| [[File:Indian IAF OF-8.svg|64x64px]]|| 1 June 2012 to 30 June 2013
|-
| Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the [[Central Air Command (India)|Central Air Command]] of the [[Indian Air Force|IAF]] || [[Air Marshal]]||[[File:Indian IAF OF-8.svg|64x64px]]|| 2 Nov 2011 to 31 May 2012
|-
| Senior Air Staff Officer at [[Western Air Command (India)|Western Air Command]] || [[Air Vice Marshal]]||[[File:Indian IAF OF-7.svg|64x64px]]|| till 1 Nov 2011
|-
| Directing Staff at [[Flying Instructors School (India)|Flying Instructors School, Tambaram]]|| [[Air Commodore]]||[[File:Indian IAF OF-6.svg|64x64px]]|| Unknown
|-
| Commanding Officer of No: 47 Squadron IAF Black Archers || [[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]]||[[File:Indian IAF OF-4.svg|64x64px]]|| 8 June 1992 to 5 June 1994
|}

==Personal life==

Arup Raha is married to Lily Raha and they have two children. The son, Atanu, is a commercial pilot who is married to Sanskriti Chatterjee Raha, a professional [[Kathakali]] dancer. The daughter, Anusree Raha, is an [[Indian Economic Service]] officer and a [[TEDx]] speaker, and is married to Bodhisattwa Biswas, an alumnus of [[Indian School of Business]].<ref>[http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_exchief.php?pg_id=130&ch=24 Indian Air Force] {{dead link|date=August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ies.gov.in/myaccount-profile-view.php?memid=478 | title=Indian Economic Service }}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Samanya Seva medal.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Operation Parakram medal.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="1"|[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|colspan="2"|[[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|colspan="1"|[[Vayu Sena Medal]]
|-
|[[Samanya Seva Medal]]
|[[Operation Parakram Medal]]
|[[Sainya Seva Medal]]
|[[Videsh Seva Medal]]
|-
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|50th Anniversary of Independence Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|30 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|9 Years Long Service Medal]]
|}
In 2018, the state-run [[Sidho Kanho Birsha University]] awarded Arup Raha with an honorary [[Doctor of Letters|D.Litt.]] degree during its convocation ceremony.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aajkaal.in/news/state/dlit-for-arup-raha-gutx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029161659/https://www.aajkaal.in/news/state/dlit-for-arup-raha-gutx | url-status=dead | archive-date=29 October 2020 | title=Aajkaal: Bengali News, Bangla News, Breaking News in Bengali }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Arup Raha}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]]
| years = 31 July 2014 – 31 December 2016
| before = [[Bikram Singh (general, born 1952)|Bikram Singh]]
| after = [[Sunil Lanba]]
}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)]]
| years = 31 December 2013 – 31 December 2016
| before = [[Norman Anil Kumar Browne]]
| after = [[Birender Singh Dhanoa]]
}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Vice Chief of the Air Staff (India)]]
| years = 1 July 2013 – 31 December 2013
| before = [[Norman Anil Kumar Browne]]
| after = Ravi Kant Sharma
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee}}
{{Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(India)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raha, Arup}}
[[Category:Chiefs of the Air Staff (India)]]
[[Category:Vice chiefs of Air Staff (India)]]
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vayu Sena Medal]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force air marshals]]
[[Category:Bengali people]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Sainik School alumni]]
[[Category:Air Force Academy (India) alumni]]

Arup Raha - Revision history

Tradeunofabrics at 01:52, 23 March 2026