Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew into Varanasi on Sunday to watch the Indian Air Force’s first‑ever air show, a spectacle that marked the 94th anniversary of the service and featured 100 aircraft soaring over the Ganges. The event, dubbed "Wings over Ganges", drew Modi, UP Governor Anandi Ben Patel, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and CM Yogi Adityanath.
The display included the Tejas, LCH Prachand, SU‑30MKI and Rafale jets, as well as transport aircraft and the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team and Sarang Helicopter Display Team.
Navy and Army aircraft also joined, underscoring a rare joint operation that the IAF says will strengthen inter‑service cooperation.
After the show, Modi inaugurated a new Arvind Limited garment plant that will employ roughly 1,000 women, signalling a push for women‑led manufacturing in UP.
The plant’s launch follows the state’s plan to attract 2,000 new industrial jobs this fiscal year, and officials say it will boost exports to over 20 countries. The air show sets the stage for the IAF’s upcoming joint training exercise in October, a concrete next step in the service’s operational calendar.