History made as first NDA women cadets join Indian Air Force

History took flight at the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) of 217 Course as the first batch of women cadets from the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, was commissioned into various branches of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Air Force Academy (AFA) Dundigal here on Saturday. 

The women cadets passed out from the NDA, Pune, on May 30, 2025, and had joined the AFA for branch-specific training.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the CGP of 217 Course, which saw



231 flight cadets – 194 men and 37 women, including the first batch of women from the NDA – graduating after completing their pre-commissioning training across different branches of the IAF.

Nine officers from the Indian Navy, three from the Indian Coast Guard and two from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a friendly country, were awarded ‘Wings’ on the occasion. ‘Brevets’ were presented to three officers upon the completion of their navigation training during the event.