March into history: 1st batch of 17 women cadets graduates NDA, with 300+ male peers

In a historic milestone, the first batch of 17 women cadets graduated from the Pune-based National Defence Academy (NDA) on Friday, 30 May, alongside over 300 male counterparts, marking the culmination 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 for the Passing Out Parade.

हज़ार बर्क़ गिरे लाख आँधियाँ उट्ठें
वो फूल खिल के रहेंगे जो खिलने वाले हैं
-साहिर लुधियानवी
These are 'Special 17' of Indian armed forces!
Marking a historic and transformative milestone in NDA’s nation-building legacy, first-ever 17 female cadets graduate from NDA #indian #women pic.twitter.com/KoPEgBNObA

— Deepak Paliwal 🇮🇳 (@dkpaliwal18) May 30, 2025

The first batch of women cadets joined the NDA’s 148th course in 2022 after the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) following .

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.

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.