From JEE prep to President’s Medal, Siddhi’s win marks another milestone in NDA history

The overall merit list is drawn from performance in academics, outdoor training, joint training, officer-like qualities and specialised service subjects. This year, the President’s Gold Medal went to Academy Cadet Adjutant Deepak Kandpal of Alpha Squadron, the President’s Silver Medal to Academy Cadet Captain Siddharth Singh of Oscar Squadron, and the President’s Bronze Medal to Divisional Cadet Captain Siddhi Jain of Kilo Squadron.

Addressing the passing-out cadets, Admiral Tripathi said, “I am delighted to see the second batch of the women cadets graduating today, 15 of them standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. This reaffirms that the service honours only one standard, that is merit.”

Siddhi, who will join the Air Force, said after the parade, “We have experienced many ups and downs and many moments that have created happy memories for life. The challenging training at the academy is possible only because at every stage we get guidance, mentorship, support from drill instructors, service subject instructors, academic teachers and unconditional support and love from our families. NDA teaches that military training is all about perseverance, consistency and continuity. After we were integrated with our male counterparts, we did our training not just shoulder to shoulder but also hand in hand.”

She added, “Joining the armed forces had been my childhood dream. Before the NDA had started admitting female cadets, I had decided to join an engineering course and then join the armed forces. To that end I had started preparing for the IIT-JEE and my father sent me to Kota. But meanwhile the NDA opened its doors for the women cadets. I then insisted that I will appear for NDA entrance. My family supported me during these times of uncertainties and I started preparing for the NDA entrance. This journey would not have been possible without the constant unconditional support from my family.”

Siddhi’s father, Nikhil Jain, a teacher from Ujhani in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh, said, “It is a moment of pride that Siddhi is the first female cadet to win the President’s Bronze Medal for overall order of merit. Siddhi did not succeed in the first attempt to get into the NDA but she did not lose her resolve and tried again. I am proud that my daughter is getting ready to join the service of the nation.”

Women’s entry into the NDA became possible after an interim order passed by the Supreme Court in August 2021 while hearing a plea seeking directions to allow eligible women to appear for the NDA and Indian Naval Academy examinations conducted by the UPSC. The court had asked the UPSC to issue a corrigendum in line with its directive. The first batch of women cadets joined the NDA in July-August 2022 as part of the 148th course.

A key milestone in the assimilation of women cadets came when they were moved out of separate accommodation and integrated with the existing 18 squadrons of the academy in the sixth and final term of the first course. Since then, female cadets allotted to each squadron undertake full-day training alongside their male counterparts.