Arjan Singh (15 April 1919 – 16 September 2017) was a senior officer of the Indian Air Force whose career spanned active service, senior command, diplomacy and public service. He is widely remembered for leading the service through a formative period in the 1960s and for being the only Indian Air Force officer promoted to a five‑star rank, Marshal of the Indian Air Force. During World War II he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his early combat service.
Early life and background
Singh was born in Lyallpur in the Punjab region of British India on 15 April 1919. The city where he was born, once called Lyallpur, is now known as Faisalabad and lies in modern‑day Pakistan. At the time of his birth the area was part of British India. His upbringing in a Sikh family and education before military entry reflected the era's social and cultural context in northern India.
Military career and leadership
Arjan Singh joined the air arm that would become India's independent air force and rose through operational and staff appointments. He saw active duty in the Second World War and later held successive commands as the post‑independence service expanded and professionalized. In 1964 he was appointed Chief of the Air Staff, a position he held until 1969. Under his stewardship the service focused on modernization, training, and operational readiness during a period that included regional tensions and organizational change.
- Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force (1964–1969)
- Senior advisor to government and defense institutions after retirement
- Known for emphasis on training, logistics and service ethos
Peers and historians note Singh's calm administrative style and his role in shaping doctrine and professional standards that influenced later generations of Indian aviators.
Diplomacy, public service and later life
After leaving active service, Singh accepted diplomatic assignments and public roles. In 1971 he was appointed as the Indian Ambassador to Switzerland and served concurrently as envoy to the Vatican. A few years later he became High Commissioner to Kenya. He also acted as an advisor to government officials and participated in ceremonial and national occasions, maintaining a visible presence in public life.
Honors, rank and legacy
In recognition of his lifelong service, and as a mark of national appreciation, Arjan Singh was promoted in 2002 to the five‑star rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force — a distinction equivalent to the army rank of Field Marshal. This made him the first and, to date, only officer of the Indian Air Force to hold a five‑star rank. His awards and public tributes reflect both his wartime contributions and his role in building a post‑independence air arm.
- Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for service in World War II.
- Promoted to Marshal of the Indian Air Force in 2002.
Arjan Singh died of a heart attack on 16 September 2017 in New Delhi at the age of 98. He is remembered in India and by military historians for steady stewardship during challenging decades, for bridging operational command and diplomatic service, and for setting professional standards that influenced later generations of Indian military leaders.