Air Commodore Ram Lal Bhalla was commissioned in the Air Force in November, 1949. AVSM 1981 During his service career, he has held various important posts and was also in command of a Base Repair Depot where he was responsible, for the overhaul of mechanical transport.

He was posted as Director of Personnel (Airmen) in January, 1979. He realized that it was vitally important to retain trained and skilled manpower which was opting to leave the Air Force after completing their initial tenure. With that intention, he carried out a study and identified the areas in which there was a need to improve the career prospects and service conditions of airmen. His findings were subsequently projected through the Chiefs of Staff Committee Paper which was accepted by Government and resulted in the sanction of a large number of upgradations, increase in honorary commissions and substantial improvements in the scales of married establishment. Working with foresight, he prepared contingent plans for the implementation of upgradations and this enabled Air Headquarters to authorise approximately 10,000 promotions within a week of the issue of formal Government letter. This had tremendous effect on the morale of serving Air Force personnel. By his tremendous hard work and positive approach, he succeeded in his mission and made equal opportunities for promotion available to all airmen irrespective of their trade.

While he was at Avadi, he prepared a scheme for construction of houses for the officers and the airmen on cooperative basis. This scheme was implemented at Madras during 1978-79 and was later converted into an inter­Service Air Force and Naval Housing Scheme with the express aim of providing a house at the time of retirement to all members who made regular payments to the Housing Board. This scheme, which was his brainchild, is now growing up and various State Governments have already earmarked land for allocation to the Air Force and Naval Housing Board.

He had also observed that the number of Airmen Selection Centres was insufficient and that there were imperfections in the recruitment system. It was on his initiative that an effective and corruption free Central Recruitment Cell which has ensured good returns to the Air Force, has been organised.

Air Commodore Ram Lal Bhalla has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.