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Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja named Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services
The Government of India has appointed Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja as the new Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), effective 31 August 2026. He will take over the role upon the retirement of the incumbent Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin.
Thareja, currently Director General Medical Services (Air), is an alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, commissioned in December 1986, and holds an MD (1997) and a DM in Gastroenterology (2005) from AIIMS New Delhi, where he received the Best DM Student Award. His career spans four decades across clinical, academic, operational and administrative duties, including command of military hospitals in Pathankot and Lucknow and directorship of AFMC, Pune.
As DG Medical Services (Air), he led initiatives that bolstered medical preparedness for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission and operationalised the BHISHM Cube, enhancing rapid medical response for operational and humanitarian missions. He has been awarded the Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal twice (VSM & Bar).
Entities
Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja · Armed Forces Medical Services · Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services · Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission · Ministry of Defence (India) · Ministry of Defence, India · Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] He is an alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, commissioned in December 1986. desitalkchicago.com · hindi.asianetnews.com · newsable.asianetnews.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja was appointed Director General Armed Forces Medical Services effective 31 August 2026. samacharnama.com · desitalkchicago.com · hindi.asianetnews.com · newsable.asianetnews.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] He earned an MD in Medicine in 1997 and a DM in Gastroenterology from AIIMS New Delhi in 2005, receiving the Best DM Student Award. desitalkchicago.com · hindi.asianetnews.com · newsable.asianetnews.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] He will succeed Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin upon her retirement. samacharnama.com · desitalkchicago.com · hindi.asianetnews.com · newsable.asianetnews.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] He oversaw the operationalisation of the BHISHM Cube, enhancing rapid medical response for operational and humanitarian missions. samacharnama.com · desitalkchicago.com · hindi.asianetnews.com · newsable.asianetnews.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] He has been awarded the Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal twice (VSM & Bar). samacharnama.com · desitalkchicago.com · hindi.asianetnews.com · newsable.asianetnews.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] He led initiatives that strengthened AFMS medical preparedness for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. samacharnama.com · desitalkchicago.com · hindi.asianetnews.com · newsable.asianetnews.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Sandeep Thareja currently serves as Director General Medical Services (Air). samacharnama.com · desitalkchicago.com · hindi.asianetnews.com · newsable.asianetnews.com