CM Fadnavis Salutes IAF Valour on Air Force Day 2026
Synopsis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saluted the Indian Air Force and the families of its personnel on the occasion of IAF Raising Day, October 8, 2026, invoking the force's Sanskrit motto 'Nabhah Sprisham Deeptam' in a bilingual tribute.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis posted a tribute to the Indian Air Force on October 8, 2026 , IAF Raising Day.
The IAF was established on 8 October 1932 , making 2026 its 94th Raising Day .
Fadnavis invoked the IAF's Sanskrit motto Nabhah Sprisham Deeptam ('Touch the sky with glory'), drawn from the Bhagavad Gita.
The tribute explicitly recognised the families of IAF personnel alongside the fighters themselves.
The post was bilingual — English and Marathi — reflecting Maharashtra's significant IAF presence and community.
Every year on October 8, India pauses to honour the force that holds the nation's sky inviolable — and this year, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis added his voice to that tribute, saluting the Indian Air Force's courage and the quiet sacrifice of the families who stand behind every uniform.
Posting on X on Thursday, October 8, 2026, Fadnavis wrote in English and Marathi: 'On Indian Air Force Day, we salute the valour, the unwavering commitment of our fighters who safeguard the nation, and the strength of their families; their courage and sacrifice keep our skies and nation secure.' He signed off with the IAF's storied motto drawn from the Bhagavad Gita — नभ: स्पृशं दीप्तम् ('Touch the sky with glory') — and greeted the occasion in Marathi as भारतीय हवाई दल दिन.
A Motto That Flies 93 Years High
The Indian Air Force was formally established on 8 October 1932, making 2026 its 94th Raising Day. From a handful of biplanes over undivided India to a modern fleet of supersonic fighters, strategic airlifters, and precision-strike platforms, the force has evolved into one of Asia's most capable air arms. Its Sanskrit motto — Nabhah Sprisham Deeptam, drawn from Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita — captures both the physical ambition and the spiritual discipline the service demands of its personnel.Families in the Salute
Fadnavis's tribute is notable for explicitly honouring the families of IAF personnel alongside the fighters themselves — a recognition that every operational posting, every long deployment, and every sortie into contested skies is borne not by one person but by a household. Maharashtra is home to several major IAF bases and a large community of serving and retired air warriors, giving the Chief Minister's words a local resonance beyond the ceremonial. The IAF's record in recent decades spans high-altitude logistics over Siachen, humanitarian airlifts after natural disasters, and combat readiness through successive regional tensions — a breadth of duty that makes Air Force Day more than a pageant. It is a ledger of consequence. As India's aerial frontier grows more complex — spanning cyber, space, and conventional domains — the women and men of the IAF remain the nation's first answer when the sky is challenged. CM Fadnavis's salute is a reminder that behind every scramble order, a family waits; and that their vigil, too, deserves to be named.Point of View
Blending national pride with regional identity politics ahead of any future state calendar. The explicit mention of families alongside fighters is a soft but pointed policy signal: welfare of defence personnel's kin has become an increasingly visible theme in BJP-governed states. More broadly, such ceremonial posts by chief ministers on defence occasions reflect a wider political consensus in India where alignment with the armed forces carries significant electoral and reputational currency.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Indian Air Force Day celebrated?
Indian Air Force Day is celebrated every year on October 8 , the date the IAF was officially established in 1932 .
What does the IAF motto 'Nabhah Sprisham Deeptam' mean?
The motto means 'Touch the sky with glory' and is drawn from Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita . It reflects both the physical and spiritual aspiration of the Indian Air Force.
What did CM Devendra Fadnavis say on IAF Day 2026?
Fadnavis saluted 'the valour, the unwavering commitment of our fighters who safeguard the nation, and the strength of their families,' adding a Marathi greeting and the IAF's Sanskrit motto.
How old is the Indian Air Force in 2026?
The Indian Air Force completes 94 years in 2026, having been raised on 8 October 1932 .
Why does Maharashtra's CM pay tribute to the IAF?
Maharashtra hosts several major IAF bases and has a large community of serving and retired air force personnel, making the Chief Minister's tribute directly relevant to the state's defence community.
