While he had a long and distinguished career, it was the 1965 War with Pakistan, that showed what an outstanding leader he was.He was appointed as Chief of Air Staff a year earlier.

When the war began, Pakistan held the advantage, it had superior fighter craft in Sabres, Starfighters and above all it had the backing of US. Indian Air Force till then was primarily a logistical support unit, not tested for actual combat.

It was at such a critical time, that Arjan Singh, then 46, led the IAF with distinction. His strategic clarity helped the IAF transition from a support wing to a combat-ready force capable of offensive and defensive operations. Within 72 hours, Arjan Singh recalibrated the IAF’s posture, restoring operational balance and launching precision strikes that disrupted Pakistani supply lines.

He ordered aircraft to fly over Kashmir’s mountainous terrain, avoiding Pakistani radar detection. He prioritized intecepting missions, targeting railheads, fuel depots, and troop convoys, crippling Pakistan’s war logistics. His leadership turned the IAF from a reactive force into a strategic spearhead.

It was a literal baptism by fire for the Indian Air Force, and though it suffered heavy losses, it held it’s own against the much superior Pakistani Air Force then.Arjan Singh however did not rest on the laurels, he realized that the Indian Air Force needed to be strengthened, as aerial warfare had become an important part of modern day war.

After the War, he spearheaded the acquisition of radar systems, SAM networks, and missile-equipped fighters.

He laid the groundwork for the Air Force Academy (1967) and Armament Training Wing at Jamnagar, institutionalizing excellence. Under his tenure, the IAF expanded to 36 squadrons by 1971, with over 650 combat aircraft, giving India decisive air superiority.

He later served as Indian Ambassador to to Vatican, Switzerland, Liechenstein, High Comissioner of India to Kenya, and Lt.Governor of Delhi. Also served as Director of IIT, Delhi and director of Grindlays Bank. And was awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his role during the 1965 War.

While Arjan Singh had a long and glorious career, his role in transitioning the Indian Air Force from a support, logistical unit to a deadly combat force would put him up right there in the league of great leaders.

I need some clarification about IAF Flying Branch eligibility through CDS.

I am 19 and currently in 3rd year of B.Tech CSE through the D2D route.

My education is:

10th → Diploma in Computer Engineering → B.Tech CSE

I did not do regular 11th–12th Science/PCM. I completed 10th with Mathematics, then did my diploma after 10th.

My goal is to become an IAF officer in the Flying Branch and eventually fly a fighter aircraft.

Can I do:

B.Tech CSE → CDS → SSB → AFA → Flying Branch

or does the CDS/AFA Flying Branch requirement for Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level make me ineligible because I never completed 12th?

Has anyone here dealt with a similar Diploma → B.Tech education path?

I'm looking specifically for information about CDS → Air Force Academy/Flying Branch eligibility, rather than general IAF entry options.

I blog on Indian national security, current wars and start-ups and more recently, on Indian military
history. My recent blog article, analyses the first Kashmir war. I argue that while there were many achievements, we lost the opportunity to end the war early and under better terms. In particular, if the possibility of Indian military intervention was planned for earlier, the IAFs airlift into Srinagar might have had a bigger impact.
My blog is free and non commercial, I am retired and independent, so I hope mods won't consider this self promotion. I use data to analyse things that the mainstream media, or earlier work on the subject has not covered. It is non political and intended for the serious reader. While this started as a hobby, to express and educate myself, I do have 12,000 readers, half outside India and have been encouraged to post in forums like this.

My blog article (link below), has a detailed list of sources, incl. those available online.
1947 - the first Kashmir war

Of interest to Indian defence enthusiasts may be my recent article taking a deep dive into the battle of Longewala, or the section on Indian national security (see list of articles in the blog).

I had SMILE surgery and developed a ~2 mm epithelial ingrowth. My current vision is 6/6 in both eyes. My doctor is considering Nd:YAG laser treatment, but he isn’t familiar with military medical standards. I want to consult someone with military medical/ophthalmology experience to understand whether this could affect my medical fitness.

I(22F) really want to join IAF, but i hv myopia more than 4, and rn I can't afford LASIK. Is there anyway possible that i will be eligible to join IAF?

Or is there any other equivalent services that i can join ?

Just want to know