Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to review the Combined Graduation Parade of Flight Cadets at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad, on June 13, 2026.
The ceremony marks the successful completion of pre-commissioning training for cadets of various branches of the Indian Air Force.
| Photo Credit: G. Ramakrishna
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday (June 13, 2026), June 13 said the growing participation of women was making the Indian Air Force (IAF) more balanced and robust, as the service marked a historic milestone with the commissioning of the first batch of women officers from the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, during the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) of the 217th Course at the Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal, near Hyderabad.“With the increase of women’s strength, our Air Force is becoming more balanced and stronger. This reflects the strength of our inclusive force,” Mr. Singh said after reviewing the parade. The women cadets, who had passed out from the NDA on May 30, 2025, underwent branch-specific training at the Air Force Academy before being commissioned. The occasion marked the first time in the history of the IAF that women cadets from the NDA graduated from the academy as officers. A total of five women officers were awarded wings, of whom two will join the fighter stream while the remaining three will join the maintenance and ground duty branches.A total of 231 flight cadets graduated after completing their pre-commissioning training across various branches of the IAF. The graduating batch comprised 194 men and 37 women. Wings were also awarded to nine officers of the Indian Navy, three officers of the Indian Coast Guard and two trainees from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on successful completion of flying training, while three officers received brevets after completing their navigation training.During the ceremony, the graduating trainees were conferred the President’s Commission. The Defence Minister presented the President’s Plaque to cadets who secured first position in the overall order of merit in the Flying Branch, Navigation stream and Ground Duty branches.Flying Officer Ashish Kumar Yadav was awarded the coveted President’s Plaque and the Nawanagar Sword of Honour for standing first in the overall order of merit in the Pilot Course. Flying Officer Ekta Gupta received the President’s Plaque for securing first position in the Navigation stream, while Flying Officer Divyanshi Singh was awarded the President’s Plaque for topping the Ground Duty branches.Addressing the newly commissioned officers, Mr. Singh congratulated the cadets and said they were becoming part of a proud legacy built over decades by the Indian Air Force. He said that while they might be experiencing a sense of satisfaction and excitement after completing their training, their actual journey had only just begun.Referring to Operation Sindoor, Mr. Singh said the Indian Air Force had demonstrated its capability to destroy enemy infrastructure with accuracy and precision. He said the force’s achievements had been made possible by indigenous platforms, a strong organisational structure and the contribution of dedicated personnel, and expressed confidence that the Air Force would continue to play a similar role in the future.The Defence Minister said the nature of warfare was undergoing rapid transformation and modern conflicts were increasingly being shaped by technology. Unlike conventional wars, present-day conflicts often unfolded without direct engagement between soldiers or clearly defined battlefields, he observed.Calling upon the young officers to understand evolving threats and recalibrate their responses, Mr. Singh said they must remain open to change. “You have to adapt, adopt, and, if necessary, amend. You have to innovate and get an edge in every aspect,” he said.The ceremony commenced with displays by the Akash Ganga skydiving team and the Air Warrior Drill Team, showcasing precision and synchronisation.
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