First Female NDA Cadets Commissioned as Armed Forces Officers

India achieved a historic milestone in 2026 as the first batch of female cadets trained at the National Defence Academy (NDA) was commissioned as officers into the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the achievement, noting that the group of 17 female officers reflects the growing role of women in India’s armed forces and demonstrates that courage and leadership transcend gender.

The Defence Minister also cited ‘Samudra Parikrama’, the armed forces’ first all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition, as another powerful example of Nari Shakti. Aboard INSV Tarini, nine female officers sailed 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans over 314 days, marking a landmark achievement in India’s military history.

The milestones underline India’s expanding opportunities for women in the armed forces and their increasing participation in leadership, operational and expeditionary roles.