First Women NDA Cadets Commissioned as Indian Army Officers in Historic 2026 Parade

Key Facts

• The Passing Out Parade was held on 13 June 2026 at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun.
• Nine women cadets from the first NDA women batch were commissioned as Lieutenants in the Indian Army.
• The total number of officer cadets commissioned was 515, including 481 Indian Gentleman Cadets and 34 foreign cadets from 16 friendly countries.
• Five women cadets from the NDA batch were commissioned into the Indian Air Force at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad.
• The Indian Military Academy was established in 1932 and is located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• The National Defence Academy is located at Khadakwasla near Pune, Maharashtra.
• The Supreme Court of India, in August 2021, issued an interim order allowing women to appear for the NDA entrance examination, enabling their admission from 2022 onwards.
• Women officers commissioned through NDA-IMA and NDA-AFA receive permanent commissions from the day of commissioning, differing from previous Short Service Commission entries.

Background & Context

The Indian Military Academy (IMA) is the premier officer training institute for the Indian Army and conducts Passing Out Parades for regular and technical courses marking the completion of pre-commission training. Historically, the NDA admitted only male cadets since its inception over seven decades ago.

Following a 2021 Supreme Court order, women were permitted to take the NDA entrance examination, and the first batch of women cadets was admitted in 2022. After completing three years at the NDA, women cadets started their branch-specific pre-commission training at respective academies in 2025, including eight women at IMA for the Army, five at AFA for the Air Force.

Prior to this, women officers primarily entered the Indian Armed Forces via Short Service Commissions with permanent commissions granted after years of service in select branches. The 2026 commissioning of women NDA cadets marked a historic change, allowing women to enter permanent commissions from day one across combat and support branches (except Infantry and Armoured Corps in the Army, as per current policy).

Why This Matters for Exams

This historic event is significant for competitive exams focused on Indian defence, gender policies, and constitutional judgments. Key points frequently asked include the year and implications of the Supreme Court order allowing women in NDA, the role of President Droupadi Murmu as Reviewing Officer, the locations of major training academies, and differences between commission types.

Points to Remember

• First women NDA batch commissioned into Indian Army on 13 June 2026 at IMA Dehradun.
• Supreme Court interim order in August 2021 allowed women to appear for NDA exam for the first time.
• The Air Force Academy is located in Dundigal, Hyderabad, Telangana.
• Women officers commissioned through NDA pathways receive permanent commissions from commissioning day.
• President Droupadi Murmu reviewed the 2026 Passing Out Parade at IMA.