In historic first, 17 women cadets graduate from NDA: Know about them

Breaking barriers, 17 trailblazing women cadets joined 336 others in the 148th course to pass out from the NDA. (Image: PTI)

The first batch of 17 female cadets scripted history after they graduated from the Pune-based National Defence Academy (NDA) on Friday. They marched along side over 300 male cadets during the Passing Out Parade.

The women cadets joined the NDA in 2022, after a Supreme Court interim order allowed women to seek admission to the tri-services academy.

Marking the passing out of the first co-ed batch, the cadets went past ‘Antim Pag’ at the Khetrpal Parade Ground of the tri-service training academy in Khadakwasla. Academy cadet captain, Udayveer Negi, commanded the parade of the 148th course, with former army chief and current governor of Mizoram, General VK Singh as the reviewing officer of the Passing Out Parade.

“This marks a historic milestone in our collective journey towards greater inclusivity and empowerment,” Gen Singh said on the occasion. Calling the young women as “Nari Shakti", he said that they embody “not just women’s development but women-led development”.

The women, part of a total of 336 cadets who passed out, celebrated later with a 'push-up' competition.

Who are these cadets?

These young women, representing the Army (9), Navy (3), and Air Force (5), have since their admission undergone three rigorous years of military, academic, and physical training shoulder-to-shoulder with their male counterparts.

Among them is Cadet Ishita Sharma from Uttarakhand — a civilian-background candidate who was pursuing economics when opportunity knocked. Today, she stands tall as the Division Cadet Captain, leading by example with academic brilliance and strong leadership, according to an Services Selection Board (SSB) report.

Cadet Harsimran Kaur from Punjab, proudly represents a family of soldiers. Another cadet, Shriti Daksh, daughter of a retired Wing Commander, shared how the NDA experience brought her closer to her father’s legacy. “My father dropped me off at the academy with pride. Now I’ll march on the parade ground just like he once did.”

Cadets like Ritul Duhan, who became the first woman Battalion Cadet Captain, understand the weight of this historic step. “We’re not just passing out — we’re setting benchmarks for generations to follow,” she said, according to SSB report.

Cadets Ishita Sangwan and Tamanna from Haryana also passed out alongside 300 male cadets, marking a historic shift in military training and inclusion. Ishita Sangwan, from Birhi village in Charkhi Dadri, stood proud in uniform as she completed her NDA training. Speaking to Hindustan Times, her father Charan Singh Sangwan, a school principal, recalled the moment the Supreme Court allowed women to take the NDA exam in August 2021.

“I called her immediately. She used to ask why girls weren’t allowed. I told her to drop JEE plans and aim for NDA,” he told HT.

Tamanna, from Uchana Khurd in Jind district, also broke new ground. The daughter of a farmer, Jagdev Singh, she balanced academics with working in the fields and helping with livestock. She has been commissioned into the Military Nursing Service (MNS) as a lieutenant.

What’s next after NDA?

In their fourth year, cadets proceed to their respective service-specific academies for a year of pre-commission training based on their preference, performance, and available slots.

They could be posted at:

• Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, Uttarakhand
• Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala
• Air Force Academy (ADA), Dundigal, Telangana