In this year’s Spring Term, 339 cadets graduated from the National Defence Academy. (Photo: NDA)
Pune: Seventeen young women cadets made history when they passed out from the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, Pune, on Friday, marking a watershed moment for women in the Indian armed forces.
At least 339 cadets were conferred upon with degrees during the convocation ceremony of the 148th NDA Course held at the academy’s iconic Khetarpal Parade Ground, which trains cadets for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The Mizoram governor and former Indian Army chief, General Vijay Kumar Singh (retired) reviewed the passing-out parade for the Spring Term – 2025.
Division cadet Shriti Daksh etched her name in history books as she became the first female cadet to receive the Silver Medal and Chief of Air Staff Trophy for securing first rank in the BA stream.
Lucky Kumar received the Chief of Army Staff Trophy for topping the BSc stream, battalion cadet captain Prince Kumar Kushwaha lifted the Chief of Naval Staff Trophy for topping the Computer Science branch, and academy cadet captain Udayveer Singh Negi emerged topper in the BTech stream.
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.
In a magnificent display of precision and discipline, the cadets marched past the quarterdeck with impeccable bearing.
Lieutenant Colonel Praveen Kumar Tiwari, adjutant, astride his charger “Reliant Robin” oversaw the conduct of the parade.
The academy cadet captain Udayveer Singh Negi of “G” Squadron, commanded the parade.
A total of 1,341 Cadets participated in the parade, of which 336 cadets were from the passing-out course.
The parade included flypast by flag-trooping Chetak helicopters, Super Dimona motorized gliders and Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft, which marked the culmination of the event.
In August 2021, the Supreme Court passed an interim order to allow women to take entrance examinations for the NDA and Naval Academy conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
