New Delhi: After the Supreme Court paved the way for women to take the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam last year, the first batch of 19 cadets have joined the tri-services academy in Khadakwasla, Pune.
The cadets will be a part of the NDA (Women)’s 148th course, and will report on Tuesday.
These cadets will undergo the same training as their male counterparts and will train at the NDA for three years. After this, they will be transferred to their specific services for further training, sources added.
In November 2021, 1.77 lakh women had appeared for the NDA exam, Minister of State Ajay Bhatt told Parliament. The final list of selected candidates for this exam was published on 14 June, 2022.
According to reports, out of the 19 women selected, ten will join the army, six the air force, and three will be in the navy.
Further reports suggest that 147,000 women registered for the 2022 NDA exam. This was nearly 22 percent of the total 669,000 applications received. The NDA exam is held twice every year – in April and September.
In September 2021, the Supreme Court permitted women candidates to appear for entrance examinations for the first time.
The NDA is the joint defence service training centre of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and the Indian Navy. Cadets of the three services train here before being sent to the training centres of their specific services.
It was formally inaugurated on 16 January, 1955 by then Chief Minister of Bombay State, Morarji Desai. The NDA has the “unique distinction of being the first institution in the world to impart joint training to officer Cadets of the Army, Navy and Air Force”.
In more than 70 years of service, the NDA has produced nearly 40,000 officers for the Indian military and more than 900 from foreign countries. Graduates of NDA have received three Param Vir Chakras, twelve Ashok Chakras, and thirty-two Maha Vir Chakras, among other honours.
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