Which one of the following statements about the organization of the Indian Air Force is correct?

Introduction / Context:
The question tests basic factual knowledge about the organization and structure of the Indian Air Force, which is one of the three major branches of the Indian Armed Forces. Many competitive examinations frequently ask about the different commands of the Indian Air Force, their roles, and important historical facts such as top ranks and honours. Understanding how the Indian Air Force is organized helps candidates appreciate how a modern air force is managed and how its operational, training, and maintenance responsibilities are distributed.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The Indian Air Force is a separate branch of the Indian Armed Forces.
• It is organized into different commands, each with a specific functional or geographic role.
• The options mention bases in foreign countries, joint exercises, a Maintenance Command, and the rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force.
• Only one of the statements is factually correct, while the others contain inaccuracies or exaggerations.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to recall the broad structure of the Indian Air Force and known facts about its history. The Indian Air Force has operational commands such as Western, Eastern, Southern, Central, South Western, and a Training Command. In addition, it has a dedicated Maintenance Command that focuses on logistics, repair, and maintenance, which makes option C correct. We also need to recall that India conducts joint exercises with many countries and that an officer of the Indian Air Force has indeed been given the rank of Marshal, making some other options clearly incorrect.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Indian Air Force has several geographic and functional commands. Step 2: Identify that besides operational and training commands, there is a separate Maintenance Command headquartered in Nagpur. Step 3: Note that India routinely conducts joint air exercises with friendly air forces, so the option denying such exercises is wrong. Step 4: Remember that an officer, Arjan Singh, was elevated to the five star rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force, so the statement denying this is incorrect. Step 5: Conclude that the only fully correct and precise statement is the one about the separate Maintenance Command.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, one can consult standard defence studies textbooks or official information about the commands of the Indian Air Force. These sources list Western, Eastern, Southern, Central, South Western, Training, and Maintenance Commands. The existence of a Maintenance Command is a stable and well known fact. Similarly, joint exercises such as Garuda, Cope India, and others show that the Air Force trains with many foreign air forces. Historical records also confirm that Arjan Singh was conferred the rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force, a unique distinction above Air Chief Marshal.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is misleading because the Indian Air Force does not maintain many formal bases in foreign friendly countries; instead, it occasionally uses facilities during specific exercises. Option B is wrong because the Indian Air Force frequently participates in joint exercises with other nations to enhance interoperability. Option D is incorrect because Arjan Singh was elevated to the rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force, disproving the claim that no officer has ever achieved this rank.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that modern armed forces always maintain bases in many foreign countries, which is not true for India. Another pitfall is to confuse occasional use of foreign facilities or participation in missions with permanently established bases. Students may also overlook or forget high level honours such as the rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force. Confusing the structure of the Army with that of the Air Force is another source of error for some candidates.

Final Answer:
The correct statement is that the Indian Air Force has a separate Maintenance Command as part of its organizational structure.