Indian Military Academy To End British Era Tradition, Use Of Horse Carriages For Chief Guest Scrapped

Chief guests at the IMA Dehradun’s passing out parade will now be using cars instead of horse carriages.

IMA Scraps Use of Horse Carriages in Passing Out Parade (Representational Image)

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In a fresh development, the ministry of Home Affairs has discontinued the Horse Carriage tradition in the IMA (Indian Military Academy) Dehradun passing out parade. As part of the tradition introduced by the Britishers, Chief Guests at the IMA passing out parade used to arrive in Horse Carriages. However, with the tradition now being scrapped, Chief Guests at the IMA passing out parade will now be using cars instead of horse carriages. The new move brings in an end to the over 90 years old tradition introduced by the Britishers. 

As part of the tradition, Inspection Officers also used to reach at the IMA Passing Out Parade in Horse Carriages (Patiala Coaches). Besides the Patiala coach, the Jaipur Coach presented by the former Maharaja of Jaipur, the Victorian Coach, as well as the Commandant’s Flag Coach were also used in the IMA Passing Out Parade. 

Notably, the decision revising decades old tradition at the IMA comes days before the next passing out parade at the Indian Military Academy. The next IMA Passing Out Parade will be held on June 10, 2023. Army Chief Manoj Pandey will be the Chief Guest at the IMA Passing Out Parade on June 10, 2023. 

Several officers of the Indian Army, notable people from the country and abroad, alongside families and relatives of the cadets will be present at the IMA Passing Out Parade 2023. A total of 374 cadets including 42 candets from friend countries will pass out in the June 10 parade. The IMA also has various programs lined up for cadets before the final passing ceremony. 

Cadets who have excelled and been meritorious in their training period at the IMA will be felicitated during the Commandant Parade and Award Ceremony at the academy on June 8. The academy will also be organizing a multi-activity display on June 9, 2023, a day before the parade.