Air Commodore Amrit Lal Saigal, was commissioned in the erstwhile Technical Armament Branch of the Indian Air Force in April, 1949. After serving in a number of units as an Armament Officer, he held appointments on the staff of two Command Headquarters and in an Explosives Storage Unit. He also served as the Senior Maintenance Staff Officer at Headquarters Eastern Air Command and more recently at Air Headquarters. On his appointment as the Senior Maintenance Staff Officer at Headquarters, Western Air Command, Air Commodore Amrit Lal Saigal made a thorough study of the maintenance support required to meet the operational plans of his Command. He identified areas of shortfalls and weaknesses and then devoted himself with untiring energy to make good the shortfalls and remove the weaknesses. He tapped all sources of supply, both within and outside the Air Force and thus enabled the operational units in the Command to achieve and maintain a very high degree of aircraft and equipment serviceability. During the recent conflict with Pakistan, he provided full logistic support to all the operational units even when they were re­deployed at short notice. It was due to his foresight and sound planning and execution, that at the end of hostilities, the operational units in his Command had substantially the same degree of aircraft and equipment serviceability as they had at the beginning of hostilities in spite of battle casualties.

Throughout, Air Commodore Amrit Lal Saigal has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.