NDA cadets pass out of academy after three years of arduous training

The Passing Out Parade (POP) of the 143rd course of the National Defence Academy commenced in the early hours of Wednesday on Khetrapal Parade Ground of the premier tri-services academy located at Khadakwasla in Pune. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

The NDA POP marks the culmination of the three-year-long, extremely demanding and arduous training at the academy. Each year, two courses of cadets pass out of India’s premier military academy, hailed as the cradle of military leadership located overseeing the foothills of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

After passing out from the NDA, the cadets head out for one more year of pre-commissioning training at the academies of their respective Armed forces – Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala located in Kannur district of Kerala, Indian Military Academy in Dehradun for Army and the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, located in Telangana. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

The parade takes place on the Khetrapal Ground of the NDA. The ground is named after Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal, a posthumous recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, who was killed in action in the Battle of Basantar in the Battlefield of Shakargarh during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

The last leg of the parade marks an emotional culmination of three-year long arduous training at the academy for the passing out cadets. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

As the junior cadets participating in the parade marched back to Quartermaster’s Fort, the passing out cadets marched past the Antim Pag — last step — at the Quarterdeck flag mast of the Khetrapal Ground with the lilting tune of the Auld Lang Syne played by the military band. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

This POP was significant in its own way in the history of the NDA, as it was the first POP since the academy inducted its first batch of the women cadets. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

Admitted in June, the first batch of girl cadets has a strength of 19 — 10 for Army, six for Air Force and three for the Navy. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

The first batch of girl cadets is slated to pass out from the academy in the Spring Term of 2025. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

The parade commenced with the contingent markers taking their positions on the parade ground. This was followed by the rest of the contingents coming out through the gates of the Quartermaster’s Fort marching on the tunes of the NDA song 'Hum NDA ke cadet hain'. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

These cadets are accompanied by the Academy Adjutant astride on a charger. When the Spring Term of the NDA passed out around May end, the cadets wear while summer uniforms, when the Autumn Term passes out around November end, the cadets wear navy blue winter uniforms. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

After the cadets took their position, the President’s Colours were brought onto the ground with attendees, civilians and service personnel, according honours by standing up and saluting respectively. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar — alumnus of 61st course of the academy — was the Reviewing Officer (RO) for the POP. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

President’s Colours or President’s Standard — which is a ceremonial flag — were awarded by the Supreme Commander of the Armed forces in recognition of a unit’s services. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

The arrival of the RO was marked by the first flypast of the parade which is of helicopters. The parade was dotted by the impressive flypasts of the helicopters, trainer aircraft and fighter aircraft including the frontline fighter jets of the IAF, Sukhoi-30 MKI. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)