Pune: First Batch of Women Cadets to Graduate from NDA at Passing Out Parade
Khadakwasla, 19th May 2025: The National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla is set to script history as it holds its 148th course Passing Out Parade (POP) on 30th May, marking the graduation of the first-ever batch of women cadets. This landmark event not only signifies the culmination of rigorous training but also reflects a transformative shift in India’s military ethos.
For the first time since its inception in 1954, the prestigious tri-services military training institution will see women marching shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts, ready to take on future roles as commissioned officers in the Indian Armed Forces.
General V.K. Singh to Review the Parade
The ceremonial parade will be inspected by General V.K. Singh (Retd.), former Chief of Army Staff and current Governor of Mizoram. An alumnus of the NDA’s 36th course, General Singh returns to the parade ground that shaped his illustrious military career, this time as the chief guest.
His presence adds a layer of legacy and inspiration to the occasion, particularly as the Academy breaks traditional barriers with the induction of women in its long-standing male-dominated cohort.
A Journey of Determination and Reform
This historic moment stems from the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in 2021, which opened the doors of NDA to women, directing the armed forces to implement gender-inclusive reforms. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted the first entrance examination shortly thereafter, and by August 2022, the first batch of 126 women cadets had joined the Academy.
Now, after three years of intense physical, academic, and tactical training, these trailblazers are ready to step into commissioned roles—paving the way for future generations of women in uniform.
Graduation Ceremony on May 29
Ahead of the formal POP, the NDA will hold its convocation ceremony on May 29. Poonam Tandon, Vice-Chancellor of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya University, Gorakhpur, will preside over the academic proceedings, conferring degrees on the cadets and delivering a keynote address aimed at empowering future military leaders.
Outstanding cadets—both male and female—will be honored with medals for exemplary performance in academics, leadership, and training.
