The VCAS is a PSO (Principal Staff Officer) at Air Headquarters at New Delhi.

He succeeded Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh to the post on 3 October 2024.

As Vice Chief, Air Marshal SP Dharkar will directly be in charge of IAF's ongoing capability build-up and visualizing its future technology requirements.

[3] On 15 November the same year, he was promoted to the acting rank of Air Vice Marshal.

In 1949, the RIAF was reorganised and the post was re-designated Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS).