Historic First: 17 Women Cadets to Graduate from NDA’s Maiden Co-Ed Batch in Pune
Historic First: 17 Women Cadets to Graduate from NDA’s Maiden Co-Ed Batch in Pune
Pune: Cadets like Ishita Sharma and Ritul Duhan lead the charge as the NDA marks a revolutionary milestone in gender integration
In a landmark moment for India’s armed forces, 17 trailblazing women cadets will graduate from the National Defence Academy (NDA) on May 30, making history as the first-ever co-ed batch to pass out from the prestigious military institute since it opened its doors to women in 2022.
#Special17 🇮🇳
— Sonal Goel IAS 🇮🇳 (@sonalgoelias) May 28, 2025
History to be scripted soon 🧡
Maiden Passing Out of Female Cadets 🫡
1st batch of 17 women cadets to graduate from National Defence Academy #NDA on 30th May 2025 🙌🏻#NationProud 🇮🇳#WomenInArmedForces #NariShaktiDeshKiShakti
(VC : SM ) pic.twitter.com/kDs0xobtYe
Among them is Cadet Ishita Sharma, who will walk onto the NDA parade ground in Pune as part of a transformation three years in the making. Also making history is Cadet Ritul Duhan, who will become the first woman Battalion Cadet Captain, and Cadet Shriti Daksh, proudly following in her father’s footsteps.
This historic shift began not with a policy change, but with a Supreme Court directive in August 2021 that ordered the inclusion of women in the NDA entrance exam. The response was overwhelming: out of 570,000 applicants for the November 2021 exam, 178,000 were women — with 1,002 clearing the written round and 17 ultimately selected to join the first co-ed batch.
The May 30 passing-out parade marks a red-letter day not only for these cadets but for India’s military tradition. From a system that once offered women only short-service commissions in select branches, this event signals a profound step toward true gender integration. Today, nine cadets from the batch will join the Army, three the Navy, and five the Air Force, heading to respective academies for advanced training.
Since 2023, a total of 126 women cadets have joined the NDA, building on the foundation laid by this pioneering batch. As they step into roles once deemed inaccessible, these cadets are not just graduating — they’re reshaping the future of India’s armed forces.
From the cradle of leadership to the battlefield, these women are ready to serve the nation with grit, grace, and gallantry.
