Indian Air Force Day 2022: A glimpse into its significance, history, theme

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• Oct 8, 2022 | Digital Desk

The IAF's motto is "Nabham Sparsham Deeptam"  (Touch the Sky with Glory) and it was taken from the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita...

Digital Desk: Indian Air Force Day is celebrated on October 8 every year to pay homage to the Indian Air Force and recognize the contribution and excellence India has demonstrated in the field.

The IAF's motto is "Nabham Sparsham Deeptam"  (Touch the Sky with Glory) and it was taken from the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. 

A peak into the IAF’s glorious history

The Indian Air Force was formally founded on October 8, 1932, as the sustaining force of the Royal Air Force of the UK, in 1932. In April 1933, the first operational squadron was introduced. The air force in India was called the Royal Indian Air Force, later after the republic in 1950, it was named Indian Air Force.

The IAF ranks as the fourth largest operational air force in the world and has been a part of quite a lot of important and landmark missions that have led to India’s success. The IAF has also fought the historic air force battles that have protected the nation. This year, the Indian Air Force will be celebrated to honour India’s aviation industry and the air force personnel who have spent their lives for the safety of the nation.

The theme of Indian Airforce Day

Indian Air Force Day is celebrated with a theme every year. 2021’s theme was "Touch the Sky with Glory". In 2020 the theme remained "the untiring efforts and supreme sacrifices of its personnel’’ and in 2019 the theme was "Know your Air Force". However, the theme for Indian Air Force Day 2022 is yet to be declared.

About 170,000 personnel and over 1,400 aircraft are currently included in the massive force. The IAF took part in four wars with Pakistan and one with the People's Republic of China. IAF aligns its work with the United Nations peacekeeping missions.