‘A matter of pride’: Punjab Police constable selected for officer’s commission in IAF

Bains said he completed his Bachelor of Arts course from the Centre for Distance and Online Education of Panjab University, Chandigarh. He has been serving as a constable with the Punjab Police since August 2022.

He was mentored by Major General (Retd) Yash Mor, a former Guards officer who runs an online special programme to help youngsters crack various entrance exams for defence services academies and SSB.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Maj Gen Mor said he met Bains in Chandigarh last year when he came to Punjab Engineering College (PEC) for an event.

“He has been a student of my online course and mentoring programme. My only advice to him was: ‘Don’t hide who you are.’ Take pride in the fact that you are a constable with the capability of becoming an officer and stay authentic and genuine,” said Maj Gen Mor.

Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police, Punjab, offered his congratulations to Constable Gursimran Singh Bains.

“It is a matter of pride that a person from our force has been selected to join the IAF. We always encourage our young, well-qualified personnel to strive for higher positions. I am sure he will excel in IAF as an officer,” Yadav told The Indian Express.

Before this, two Punjab Police constables, Anmol Sharma and Lovepreet Singh, were selected to become commissioned officers in the Indian Army in March 2024. They achieved this by clearing the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam and the Services Selection Board interview while still serving in the police force.

Both constables were based at the 7th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) of the Punjab Police.

Sharma, 24, who secured All India Rank 99 in the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam, is the son of a serving Punjab Police Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI), also an international hockey umpire.

Lovepreet Singh, also 24, who cleared the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, is the son of a serving Subedar in the Defence Security Corps’ 28 Ammunition Company in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara.