Air Marshal Rakesh K Singh assumes charge as Vice Chief of IAF
New Delhi, May 1: Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria Wednesday assumed charge as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, succeeding Air Marshal Anil Khosla.
Air Marshal Singh, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, was commissioned in the fighter stream of IAF on 15 Jun 1980.
He has over 4,250 hours of flying experience on 26 types of fighters and transport aircraft.
Air Marshal Singh had done his Masters in Defence Studies from Command and Staff College, Bangladesh.
The Air Marshal has held a number of important positions in the IAF which included commanding a Jaguar squadron and heading a premier Air Force station.
He was extensively involved in the initial prototype flight tests on the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
Air Marshal Bhadauria was also the Air Attache at Indian embassy, Moscow. Prior to assuming charge as Vice Chief of IAF, he was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Training Command.
During his career, he was commended by the Chief of Air Staff and has been awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vayu Sena Medal.
Air Marshal Khosla retired on Monday after an illustrious career spanning four decades.
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Unjustified, says Russia on US pressure on India for buying Russian crude oil
New Delhi, (PTI): The US pressure on India for its procurement of Russian crude oil is "unjustified", a senior Russian diplomat said on Wednesday.
We are confident that India-Russia energy cooperation will continue notwithstanding the external pressure, Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin said.
It is a "challenging" situation for India, he said at a media briefing and added that, we have "trust" in our ties with New Delhi.
In the context of Western punitive measures against Russia, Babushkin said the sanctions are hitting those who are imposing them.
To a question, he said the role of BRICS as a stabilising force will increase amid the ongoing global turbulence.
His remarks came against the backdrop of strain in India's ties with the US following President Donald Trump doubling tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent that included an additional penalty of 25 percent for purchasing Russian crude oil.
US President Trump this month issued an executive order slapping an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods as a penalty for New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil.
Defending its purchase of Russian crude oil, India has been maintaining that its energy procurement is driven by national interest and market dynamics.
India turned to purchasing Russian oil sold at a discount after Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and shunned its supplies over its invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022.
Consequently, from a mere 1.7 percent share in total oil imports in 2019-20, Russia's share increased to 35.1 percent in 2024-25, and it is now the biggest oil supplier to India.
