Dehradun, June 13 (IANS). President Draupadi Murmu on Saturday inspected the passing out parade of the 158th Regular Course and 141st Technical Graduate Course at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. This day is very proud and historic for the Indian Army and the women of the country, because the first female cadets of the National Defense Academy (NDA) are passing out today as officers.
In the passing out parade of IMA, 9 female cadets of the first female batch of NDA will join the Indian Army as officers. Five women cadets will get commission in the Air Force from the Indian Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad. Earlier the doors of NDA were closed for women. After the historic decision of the Supreme Court in June 2022, women got entry into NDA. This decision has given a new direction to the role of women in the armed forces.
President Draupadi Murmu will review the IMA parade, while Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will be present at the Dundigal Air Force Academy. A total of 515 cadets are passing out from IMA this year, which includes 34 foreign cadets from 16 countries. Among them are 9 brave women cadets of the first women batch of NDA, who after rigorous training are now ready to serve the country.
A total of 231 flight cadets from flying and ground duty branches are completing pre-commissioning training under the 217th course of the Indian Air Force. These include 194 male and 37 female cadets. Out of these 37 women cadets, 5 are from the first women batch of NDA. This achievement has proved that women can also contribute to the armed forces by completing rigorous training equal to men. The finale of the Combined Graduation Parade is very grand and attractive. The displays by the Air Force’s Sukhoi fighter aircraft-Sarang helicopter display team and the famous Surya Kiran aerobatic team were the main attractions.
–IANS
SCH/VC
