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3w ago

NDA's First Women Cadets Set to Graduate, Marking Milestone in Indian Defence History

Seventeen women cadets will graduate alongside over 300 male peers on May 29–30, completing three years of rigorous integrated training at the National Defence Academy.

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For women, change is indeed coming to the defence establishment, slowly but surely. (HT)

Overview

  • The first-ever batch of 17 women cadets will graduate from the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune, a landmark moment for gender integration in India's armed forces.
  • This historic cohort underwent the same demanding three-year tri-services training as their male counterparts, with equitable adjustments to physical standards.
  • The Supreme Court's 2021 directive enabled women to join the NDA, leading to 178,000 female applicants in the inaugural year, 1,002 of whom cleared the written exam, with 17 ultimately selected.
  • The NDA adapted its infrastructure to support women cadets, introducing separate washrooms, designated squadrons, and enhanced security measures such as fingerprint-based locks.
  • Following graduation, nine women cadets will join the Army, three the Navy, and five the Air Force, continuing their training at service-specific academies.