In a landmark moment for India’s armed forces, the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune celebrated the graduation of its first-ever batch of 17 women cadets on Friday, marking a transformative step toward gender inclusivity in the nation’s premier military training institution. The 148th Course – Spring Term 2025 Passing Out Parade (POP) at the iconic Khetarpal Parade Ground in Khadakwasla saw these trailblazing women march shoulder to shoulder with over 300 male counterparts, showcasing precision, discipline, and military bearing after three years of rigorous training.
The historic event, attended by proud families, distinguished dignitaries, and serving and retired Armed Forces personnel, was reviewed by Mizoram Governor and former Chief of Army Staff, General (Retd) VK Singh. Addressing the parade, General Singh hailed the occasion as a “uniquely significant day” in the NDA’s 76-year history, emphasizing that the graduation of the first female cadets “embodies not just women’s development, but women-led development.” He expressed confidence that these women could rise to the highest echelons of the services they join, reflecting a generational shift in India’s military ethos.
The journey to this milestone began in 2021 when a Supreme Court ruling directed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to allow women to apply for NDA entrance exams, a decision that opened the doors of the prestigious tri-service academy to women for the first time. The first batch of female cadets joined the NDA’s 148th course in July-August 2022, following a landmark policy change that came nearly three decades after women were permitted to serve as Short Service Commission officers in select branches of the armed forces.
Among the standout cadets was Division Cadet Captain Shriti Daksh, who etched her name in history by topping the Bachelor of Arts stream, earning the silver medal and the Chief of Air Staff Trophy. Reflecting on her experience, Daksh, whose father is an NDA alumnus from the same Hunter Squadron, described the three-year training as “a rollercoaster of emotions.” She credited the academy’s instructors and staff for helping her assimilate into the rigorous environment, noting the adage “jitna ragda, utna tagda” (the more gruelling the training, the stronger the cadet) as a true testament to her growth.
Another cadet, Ishita Sangwan from Haryana, highlighted the transformative impact of the NDA’s gender-neutral training. “Equal opportunity naturally empowers each individual,” she said, emphasizing the unbreakable bonds formed with fellow cadets. Of the 17 women, nine will join the Army, three the Navy, and five the Air Force, heading to respective academies for further training before commissioning as officers.
NDA Commandant Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh underscored the academy’s structural transformation to integrate female cadets, noting their full assimilation into squadrons and gender-neutral training protocols. A special edition magazine, Breaking Barriers: Female Cadets, unveiled during the ceremony, documented their challenges and triumphs, cementing their legacy as icons of a more inclusive future in national defense.
The parade, commanded by Academy Cadet Captain Udayveer Singh Negi, featured a flypast by three Su-30 aircraft, adding grandeur to the occasion. As these 17 women cadets step into leadership roles, they carry the nation’s resolve, heralding a new era of Nari Shakti in India’s armed forces.