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Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
A march into history: 1st batch of 17 female cadets passes out from NDA
WITH THE background score of the emotional and nostalgic Scottish tune of Auld Lang Syne and the majestic backdrop of the Sahyadri hills, the cadets from the landmark 148th course of the NDA, including first batch of 17 female cadets, marched past Quarterdeck flag mast on the Khetrapal Ground, marking the end the of their three-year challenging training. A total of 336 cadets including 17 female cadets passed out of the academy, according to the NDA. Gen Vijay Kumar Singh (retd), Governor of Mizoram and former Chief of Army Staff was the Reviewing Officer for the Passing Out Parade (POP). Gen Singh addressed the cadets and ceremonially pinned medals on those who earned top honors of the course. The President's Gold Medal was awarded to Battalion Cadet Adjutant Prince Raj of Charlie Squadron. The President's Silver Medal was awarded to Academy Cadet Captain Udayveer Singh Negi of Golf Squadron. The President's Bronze Medal went to Battalion Cadet Captain Tejas Bhat of November Squadron. The Chiefs of Staff Banner for the Champion Squadron was awarded to the Golf Squadron. The complete parade line-up consisted of a total of 1,341 cadets divided in 18 contingents of each squadron. Of these 1,341 cadets in the parade line-up, 336 were from the passing out course and remaining from the junior courses which included the female cadets. On Friday morning, Gen Singh visited the Hut of Remembrance (HOR) and paid homage to the bravehearts. The Hut of Remembrance is the sanctum sanctorum of the NDA and was built by the voluntary efforts of cadets of the 10th to 17th courses, to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Indian soldiers during the World War II and post–independence operations in J&K. Later, it also became a memorial for ex-NDA officers who made the supreme sacrifice during combat operations.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
In a first, 17 female cadets take part in NDA parade
While the 148th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) concluded its rigorous training with a grand Passing Out Parade (POP) held at the iconic Khetarpal Parade Ground on the morning of May 30, 2025, the occasion was made even more momentous by the 17 pioneering female cadets who became the first women to pass out from the NDA. A total of 1,341 cadets participated in the parade, including 336 who were part of the passing out course. This year's POP was historic in that it witnessed the commissioning of the first-ever batch of 17 female cadets from the NDA. These pioneering cadets will now move on to their respective pre-commissioning training academies as proud NDA alumni. The presence of the female cadets' parents added a deeply personal dimension to the ceremony as they celebrated not only their daughters' achievements but also the latter's role in breaking barriers and redefining possibilities for women in the Indian Armed Forces. The event – a vibrant celebration of discipline, dedication and military excellence – was attended by the cadets' proud parents, dignitaries, schoolchildren, civilians, and both serving and retired members of the Armed Forces. Many among the attendees look visibly moved as they proceeded to break into tearful smiles and give standing ovations. The reviewing officer for the parade was general V K Singh (Retd.), governor of Mizoram, who took the salute as the cadets marched past the quarterdeck with immaculate precision. The parade was commanded by academy cadet captain Udayveer Singh Negi of Golf Squadron while lieutenant colonel Praveen Kumar Tiwari, the adjutant, astride his charger 'Reliant Robin', oversaw the ceremonial proceedings. In recognition of outstanding performance, the reviewing officer presented the President's Medals to the top cadets in the order of merit. The President's Gold Medal was awarded to BCA Prince Raj; President's Silver Medal to ACC Udayveer Singh Negi; and President's Bronze Medal to BCC Tejas Bhatt. The Chiefs of Staff Banner was awarded to Golf Squadron, further underscoring the latter's exemplary performance during the training. Adding to the ceremonial grandeur, a flypast featuring flag-trooping Chetak helicopters, Super Dimona motorised gliders, and Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft offered a spectacular aerial salute, symbolising the high standards of training and readiness at the NDA. NDA unveils magazine chronicling journey of first female cadets On the sidelines of the POP, chief guest, general V K Singh (Retd.); along with lieutenant general Gurucharan Singh, commandant of the NDA; interacted with members of the media. During the interaction, they unveiled a special commemorative magazine dedicated to the inaugural batch of female cadets at the academy. The publication captures a historic chapter in NDA's evolution and features personal reflections from the commandant and deputy commandant on the induction and training of the female cadets. The magazine also includes firsthand accounts and experiences shared by the cadets themselves, offering a sneak-peek into their journey and the transformative impact of their presence at the academy. Addressing the media on this occasion, general V K Singh (Retd.), said, 'The female cadets were seamlessly integrated into the POP, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts – indistinguishable in their bearing, precision, and discipline. This remarkable cohesion is a testament to the meticulous training and rigorous standards upheld by the academy. While the journey to induct female cadets into the NDA involved a long and deliberate process, that milestone has now been firmly achieved. The academy is steadily evolving into a truly gender-neutral institution, committed to providing equal opportunities and nurturing the potential of every cadet. There is no doubt that the NDA will continue to deliver advanced and progressive training, ensuring that all cadets, regardless of gender, are fully prepared for the challenges of military leadership.' NDA commandant lieutenant general Gurucharan Singh reflected on the journey of integrating the female cadets into the academy saying, 'The process of including female cadets has been underway for quite some time. Initially, they were housed separately in designated accommodations as we closely observed how they adapted to the training environment. After carefully reviewing their performance, they were progressively integrated into squadrons and battalions. Today, they train together, play together, and participate in camps alongside their male counterparts. I can confidently say that we now have the experience and insight needed to ensure that future training will yield even better outcomes. Of course, we drew inspiration from institutions like the Officers Training Academy and the Indian Naval Academy, where female cadets have long been part of the system, and adapted our approach accordingly.'
Indian Express
4 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Gen V K Singh reviews historic Passing Out Parade of NDA's 148th course
With the emotional and nostalgic Scottish tune of Auld Lang Syne playing, and the majestic backdrop of the Sahyadri hills, the cadets from the historic 148th course of the National Defence Academy, including the first batch of 17 women cadets, marched on the Khetrapal Ground, marking the end of their three-year challenging training. As many as 338 cadets participated in the Passing Out Parade (POP), which was reviewed by General Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd), former Chief of Army Staff and current Governor of Mizoram. Gen Singh addressed the passing-out cadets, and ceremonially pinned medals on those who earned top honours of the course. The President's Gold Medal was awarded to Battalion Cadet Adjutant Prince Raj of Charlie Squadron. The President's Silver Medal was awarded to Academy Cadet Captain Udayveer Singh Negi of the Golf Squadron. The President's Bronze Medal went to Battalion Cadet Captain Tejas Bhat of November Squadron. The Chiefs of Staff Banner was awarded to the Golf Squadron. Each year, India's premier tri-services academy witnesses the graduation and passing out of two batches of cadets. On Thursday, the convocation ceremony for the 148th course of NDA was held, and 339 cadets, including 17 women, were awarded their degrees and course completion certificates. The cadets were conferred with degrees and course completion certificates from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) at the convocation of the 148th course of the NDA. Division Cadet Captain Shreeti Daksh, who is from the first batch of women cadets, became an academic topper by standing first in the Arts stream. Situated amidst the scenic foothills of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra, NDA is often hailed as the cradle of military leadership. Upon completing their three-year training at NDA, the cadets proceed to their respective armed forces' academies for an additional year of pre-commissioning training. This includes the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala, Kerala; the Indian Military Academy in Uttarakhand's Dehradun for the Army; and the Air Force Academy at Dundigal in Telangana. In August 2021, the Supreme Court passed an interim order while hearing a plea seeking directions to allow eligible women to take the entrance examination for the NDA and Naval Academy conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The apex court asked UPSC to issue a corrigendum in keeping with its interim direction. The court, however, said that admission of women candidates will be subject to the final ruling on the petition. The first batch of women cadets joined the NDA in July-August 2022 as part of its 148th course.
