History at IMA: Sai Jadhav Becomes First Woman Officer Commissioned in 93 Years

Dehradun, 16th December 2025: In a moment that reshapes one of the Indian Army’s most tradition-bound institutions, 23-year-old Sai Jadhav has become the first woman officer to graduate from the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun—bringing to an end a 93-year, all-male legacy that began with the academy’s founding in 1932.

Commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Territorial Army, Sai’s induction is unprecedented on multiple counts. More than 67,000 officers have graduated from the IMA over the past nine decades, all of them men. She is not only the first woman to complete training at the academy, but also the first woman officer from the IMA to join the Territorial Army.

Sai’s achievement is deeply rooted in a family legacy of military service spanning four generations. Her great-grandfather served in the British Army, her grandfather was commissioned in the Indian Army, and her father, Sandeep Jadhav, is a serving officer. With her commissioning, Sai becomes the fourth consecutive generation in her family to don the uniform.

Educated across multiple states due to her father’s postings, Sai began her schooling in Belgaum before completing her graduation. She later cleared a national-level competitive examination, followed by the rigorous Service Selection Board (SSB) process, earning her selection for training at the IMA.

Granted special permission, Sai underwent six months of intensive training at the academy, training alongside male cadets and meeting all prescribed standards and benchmarks of the institution. Officials confirmed that her evaluation and performance were conducted entirely at par with those of her peers.

Her commissioning comes at a time when the Indian Army is gradually expanding institutional pathways for women. Currently, eight women officer cadets are undergoing training as part of the first batch selected through the National Defence Academy’s 2022 intake, marking a broader shift in the armed forces’ approach to gender inclusion.

The passing-out ceremony drew national attention, particularly the moment when Sai’s parents pinned the stars on her shoulders—a scene widely shared and hailed by veterans and serving personnel as a defining milestone in the Army’s evolution.

Looking ahead, Sai is scheduled to participate in the ceremonial parade in front of the iconic Chetwode Building in June 2026, an honour traditionally accorded to IMA graduates. Her presence on that parade ground is expected to stand as a powerful symbol of changing opportunities and long-awaited institutional transformation within the Indian armed forces.