Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja has taken charge as Director General Armed Forces Medical Services, India’s senior-most tri-service military medical appointment. He succeeds Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, bringing nearly four decades of experience in military medicine to the role.
India’s top military medical post has a new chief. Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja took over as Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) on the afternoon of August 31, 2026. He succeeded Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, who retired from the position on the same day.
Before this appointment, Air Marshal Thareja served as Director General Medical Services (Air), one of the senior-most medical posts within the Indian Air Force. His move to DGAFMS marks the culmination of a military medical career spanning nearly four decades, one that has taken him through clinical practice, academic teaching, hospital command, and senior administrative leadership.
Quick Facts: Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja
- New appointment: Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS)
- Effective from: Afternoon, August 31, 2026
- Predecessor: Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (retired)
- Previous post: Director General Medical Services (Air)
- Commissioned: December 1986, Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune
- MD in Medicine: 1997
- DM in Gastroenterology: 2005, AIIMS New Delhi (Best DM Student Award)
- Military education: National Defence College alumnus, ‘A’ grading in all military courses
- Publications: Over 50 scientific publications in national and international medical journals
- Decorations: SM, VSM & Bar
- Career span: Nearly four decades
What Is the DGAFMS Post?
The Director General Armed Forces Medical Services stands as the senior-most medical appointment across India’s entire military establishment. The DGAFMS heads the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), a tri-service organisation that delivers healthcare and medical support to personnel of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, along with their families and other entitled beneficiaries.
Given this scope, the role carries responsibility for one of the country’s largest and most complex military healthcare networks. Whoever holds this post effectively oversees medical policy, hospital administration, and healthcare delivery across all three armed services at once, rather than for a single branch alone.
Air Marshal Thareja’s Educational Background
Air Marshal Thareja’s academic journey began at the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune, a premier institution for military medical training in India. He was commissioned into the Armed Forces in December 1986, launching a career that would eventually span almost four decades.
His postgraduate training continued well beyond his initial commissioning. He completed an MD in Medicine in 1997, before going on to earn a DM in Gastroenterology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, in 2005. During this specialisation, he received the Best DM Student Award, an early marker of the academic distinction that would follow him throughout his career.
Beyond his medical qualifications, Air Marshal Thareja also built a strong record in professional military education. He secured an ‘A’ grading in all his military courses and later became an alumnus of the National Defence College, reflecting a career built on both clinical expertise and military leadership training.
Air Marshal Thareja’s Career Timeline at a Glance
| Year/Period | Milestone |
|---|---|
| December 1986 | Commissioned into the Armed Forces |
| 1997 | Completed MD in Medicine |
| 2005 | Completed DM in Gastroenterology, AIIMS New Delhi |
| — | Commandant, Military Hospital Pathankot |
| — | Commandant, Command Hospital, Lucknow |
| — | Director & Commandant, AFMC Pune |
| February 10, 2025 | Took over as Director General Medical Services (Air) |
| August 31, 2026 | Took over as DGAFMS |
A Career Built Across Clinical, Academic, and Administrative Roles
Over nearly four decades in uniform, Air Marshal Thareja has held a wide range of senior positions within India’s military medical establishment. His postings included Senior Consultant (Medicine) at the Office of the DGAFMS, Commandant of Military Hospital Pathankot, and Commandant of Command Hospital, Lucknow.
He also served as Director and Commandant of AFMC Pune, one of India’s most prestigious military medical institutions, before taking over as Director General Medical Services (Air) on February 10, 2025. In addition, he has served as the Commodore Commandant of the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), an institution that plays a significant role in aerospace medicine, aviation physiology, and medical support for the Indian Armed Forces’ aviation community.
Alongside these command and administrative roles, Air Marshal Thareja has remained active as a practising gastroenterologist, academician, and medical teacher throughout his career. He has personally guided numerous postgraduate and super-speciality students, reflecting his continued involvement in medical education even while holding senior leadership positions. His academic output backs up this reputation too: he has authored more than 50 scientific publications in reputed national and international medical journals over the course of his career.
Key Contributions as DGMS (Air)
Air Marshal Thareja’s most recent posting, as Director General Medical Services (Air), gave him a platform to lead several transformational initiatives aimed at strengthening operational medical preparedness within the Indian Air Force.
Two contributions stand out in particular. His work helped strengthen the Armed Forces Medical Services’ medical readiness for India’s Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission, supporting the medical dimensions of the country’s crewed spaceflight programme. He also led the operationalisation of the BHISHM Cube, a development that significantly enhanced rapid medical response capabilities for operational and emergency situations.
Together, these initiatives point to a leadership style focused on modernising India’s military medical readiness, extending well beyond routine clinical administration into emerging domains like human spaceflight support and rapid-response medical technology.
What This Appointment Means Going Forward
As DGAFMS, Air Marshal Thareja now takes charge of the integrated medical services supporting the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. This appointment places him at the centre of tri-service military healthcare at a moment when the Armed Forces are placing growing emphasis on operational medical readiness, advanced healthcare technologies, and medical support for emerging domains such as human spaceflight.
Given his track record in both clinical specialisation and large-scale institutional leadership, Air Marshal Thareja arrives at this senior appointment with a rare combination of medical depth and administrative experience. This background is likely to shape how the Armed Forces Medical Services continues evolving in the years ahead, particularly as India’s military expands its focus on advanced and technology-driven healthcare delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
About the Appointment
Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja took over as DGAFMS on the afternoon of August 31, 2026, succeeding Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, who retired from the post.
He previously served as Director General Medical Services (Air), one of the senior-most medical appointments within the Indian Air Force, a role he took up on February 10, 2025.
He holds an MD in Medicine, completed in 1997, and a DM in Gastroenterology from AIIMS New Delhi, completed in 2005, where he received the Best DM Student Award.
He holds an MD in Medicine, completed in 1997, and a DM in Gastroenterology from AIIMS New Delhi, completed in 2005, where he received the Best DM Student Award.
The DGAFMS heads the Armed Forces Medical Services, the tri-service organisation responsible for healthcare and medical support to personnel of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, along with their families and other entitled beneficiaries.
Career Background and Contributions
His postings include Commandant of Military Hospital Pathankot, Commandant of Command Hospital Lucknow, Director and Commandant of AFMC Pune, and Commodore Commandant of the Institute of Aerospace Medicine.
He strengthened the AFMS’s medical preparedness for India’s Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission and led the operationalisation of the BHISHM Cube, enhancing rapid medical response capabilities.
Yes. He is a gastroenterologist by specialisation, alongside his broader background in military medicine, hospital administration, and medical education.
He has authored more than 50 scientific publications in reputed national and international medical journals, alongside guiding numerous postgraduate and super-speciality students.
He is an alumnus of the National Defence College and secured an ‘A’ grading across all his military courses.
He succeeded Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, who retired from the DGAFMS post on August 31, 2026.
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