Flight Cadet Divyanshi Singh is set to become the first woman trained at the NDA to be commissioned into the Indian Air Force's Ground Duty branch.
Flight Cadet Divyanshi Singh receives recognition from Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the Combined Graduation Ceremony at Air Force Academy, Dundigal. (Image credit: India Today Desk)
New Delhi, UPDATED: Jun 15, 2026 16:32 IST
Flight Cadet Divyanshi Singh has become the first woman trained at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, to be commissioned into the Ground Duty branch of the Indian Air Force. She was commissioned alongside 230 other flight cadets, including 194 men and 36 women, during the Combined Graduation Parade of the 217th Course at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad.
The graduating contingent included the first group of women officers trained at the NDA.
Divyanshi was part of the first batch of women admitted to the NDA after the institution opened its doors to female candidates in 2022.
The move came after a Supreme Court ruling in 2021 allowed women to appear for the NDA entrance examination, ending the academy's long-standing men-only admission policy.
Among the first five women cadets to join the tri-services academy, Divyanshi completed three years of military training at the NDA before moving to the Air Force Academy (AFA) in Dundigal, Hyderabad, for branch-specific instruction.
During her time at the NDA, she held the appointment of Cadet Quarter Master Sergeant, a leadership position involving responsibilities related to cadet administration and management.
Like her male counterparts, she underwent training in military discipline, physical conditioning, leadership and teamwork, which form the core of the NDA curriculum.
The first batch of women cadets completed their NDA training in March 2025 and subsequently joined their respective service academies for specialised training before commissioning.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the parade and awarded the President's Commission to the graduating cadets.
In 2025, the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, passed out its first batch of woman officer cadets , marking the first time in its history that women completed training and graduated from the institution.
As Divyanshi prepares to don the uniform as a commissioned officer of the Indian Air Force, her achievement represents more than an individual success.
It reflects the changing face of India's military and serves as an inspiration for young women across the country aspiring to serve in uniform.
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Published By:
Rishab Chauhan
Published On:
Jun 15, 2026 14:08 IST
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