Naari Shakti At NDA: First Of Women Cadets Graduate From National Defence Academy — WATCH

The NDA in Pune held its first co-ed graduation, with 17 women among 300+ graduates. Gen V.K. Singh hailed them as symbols of "Naari Shakti," following the Supreme Court’s 2021 directive.

The first batch of women cadets joined the NDA’s 148th course in 2022.

Source : PTI

Pune, May 30 (PTI) In a historic milestone, the first batch of 17 women cadets on Friday graduated from the Pune-based National Defence Academy (NDA), alongside over 300 male counterparts, marking the passing out of its first co-ed batch.

The cadets went past the ‘Antim Pag’ at the Khetrpal Parade Ground of the tri-service training academy in Khadakwasla, widely known as the “cradle of leadership”.

Gen V K Singh, former Army Chief and current governor of Mizoram, was the reviewing officer of the Passing Out Parade.

The first batch of women cadets joined the NDA’s 148th course in 2022 after the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) allowed women to apply to the defence academy following a Supreme Court direction in 2021.

#WATCH | Maharashtra | Passing Out Parade of 148th Course, National Defence Academy (NDA) underway in Pune.

The parade is being reviewed by General VK Singh, PVSM, AVSM, YSM (Retd), Governor of Mizoram & former Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).

(Source: National Defence Academy) pic.twitter.com/R8qdjStG16

— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2025

Academy cadet captain, Udayveer Negi, commanded the parade of the 148th course.

“Today is also a uniquely significant day in the history of the academy as the first batch of female cadets pass out from the NDA. This marks a historic milestone in our collective journey towards greater inclusivity and empowerment,” Gen Singh said on the occasion.

#WATCH | Pune, Maharashtra: The first batch of 17 female cadets graduated from the National Defence Academy (NDA) today

Harsimran Kaur, one of the cadets, says, "I was actually preparing for JEE Mains and then NDA came in between as a blessing. I was told by one of my friends… pic.twitter.com/1d3Th81x9i

— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2025

These young women are the inevitable symbol of “Naari Shakti”, embodying not just women’s development but women-led development, he said.

“I envision a future, not far from now, that one of these young women may rise to the highest of roles of the service they go to,” he said. 

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)