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First-ever batch of 17 women cadets passes out from NDA

First-ever batch of 17 women cadets passes out from NDA

India Gazette3 days ago

New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): The National Defence Academy (NDA) witnessed a momentous occasion on Fridat as the first-ever batch of 17 women cadets was among the 336 cadets who graduated from the academy, marking the culmination of 148th Course - Spring Term 2025, as per a release from the Ministry of Defence.
According to the release, a total of 1,341 Cadets, including 336 from the passing out course, participated in the Passing Out Parade (POP) at the iconic Khetarpal Parade Ground in Maharashtra's Khadakwasla. Gracing the occasion as the Reviewing Officer was the Governor of Mizoram, General (Dr) VK Singh (Retd).
The parade marked the successful completion of rigorous military and academic training by the cadets, culminating in a splendid display of precision, discipline and military bearing. It was impeccably conducted by Adjutant Lt Col Praveen Kumar Tiwari, astride his charger 'Reliant Robin'. Academy Cadet Captain Udayveer Singh Negi of 'G' Squadron commanded the parade with exceptional composure and military precision.
In recognition of the exemplary performance, the Reviewing Officer presented the President's Gold Medal to Battalion Cadet Adjutant Prince Raj, the President's Silver Medal to Academy Cadet Captain Udayveer Singh Negi, and the President's Bronze Medal to Battalion Cadet Captain Tejas Bhatt. The prestigious Chiefs of Staff Banner was awarded to the Golf Squadron for overall excellence.
The event concluded with a grand flypast featuring flag-trooping Chetak helicopters, Super Dimona motorised gliders, and the majestic Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft. This symbolised the culmination of training and the cadets' readiness to embark on the next phase of their military journey.
The event was attended by a diverse group that included proud families, distinguished dignitaries, school children, civilians, and serving and retired Armed Forces personnel.
The Spring Term 2025 POP stands as a proud testament to the Academy's enduring commitment to grooming future military leaders, now enriched with the inclusion of women cadets destined to serve the nation with honour and valour. The release added that the event held historical significance as it marked the passing out of the first-ever batch of 17 Female Cadets from the Academy -- a transformative milestone in NDA's legacy of nation-building. (ANI)

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On May 29, Jasmine, 21, is dressed in her white uniform and stands with her parents on the steps of the National Defence Academy's (NDA) Sudan Block. Behind her, flanking the entrance, are gold tri-service emblems with the words 'Service before self'. In front of her is the rest of her life, which she will likely spend serving India in one of the three defence forces. Hugging her mother, she says with joy, 'I did it.' Jasmine is one of 17 — the first batch of women to graduate from the military's joint-services training institute in Khadakwasla, Maharashtra. It took 148 courses, 70 years, and a Supreme Court verdict for policies to change, so women could enter the academy. She graduates with over 300 men, who will all join as officers in the Army, Air Force, and Navy. In September 2021, Jasmine came across a notification on the government's Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) website inviting women to appear for the entrance exams. 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'We ensured they played, lived, trained, together, to achieve gender neutrality,' says Gurcharan, adding that barriers need to come down from the start, so there is no difference in times of conflict or battle. Mothers and others On May 30, Geeta Dhaka, 45, watched with pride as her daughter Shanan Dhaka, 21, participated in the passing out parade. The women and men are dressed alike, their hair cropped short, and from a distance, there is no difference. Shanan's sister is currently training at the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC). 'Today, I feel really proud as my daughter has endured the toughest defence course. Since childhood, my children had wanted to join the defence, like my husband. This shift from a fauji wife to a fauji maa is emotional and painful too,' she says, understanding that in case of a war-like situation, her husband and daughter may both be called up. The Dhaka family is from Chandigarh, but currently resides in Rohtak. Division Cadet Captain (DCC) Shriti Daksh, who was put into a leadership position, follows in her father's footsteps. Wing Commander Yogesh Daksh (retd.) is proud: 'Shriti scored 97% in Class 10 and 99% in Class 12. She has always been good academically, and seeing her top the arts course makes me a happy father.' Her mother was worried about the intense physical training, but says, 'It goes to show that if you put your mind to something, it will pay off.' Their other daughter is serving in the Air Force as a Flying Officer, and the family hails from Haryana, but is currently based in Noida. Academy Cadet Captain Udayveer Singh Negi of the 'G' Squadron, who commanded this Spring term parade (two batches pass out each year from NDA), waited as Shriti celebrated with others informally in the parking area, between cars. Amid the loud cheers of betiya date hi rahe, betiya jeet gayi (Daughter keep going, daughter won), Udayveer says, 'Most of the time we forget that they are women. We trained with each other, shoulder to shoulder. In a few tasks like map reading and field tactics, they outdid us. We felt equal, and gender was never a restriction.' The cadets' parents would visit their children at the end of each term of six months, meeting each other too. After the parade, mothers hugged each other and clicked selfies. Srishti's mother, Priyanka, says, 'Our children have become friends, but we parents also share bonds. We became each other's support systems through the course.' Cadet Harsimran Kaur from Punjab points out: 'Our bond has grown beyond that during these three years. These friendships are for life.' Edited by Sunalini Mathew

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