MOHALI — Eighteen cadets from the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) in Mohali have successfully graduated from the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, Pune. The achievement was part of the 138th NDA course’s passing out ceremony on Saturday, a significant milestone marking the culmination of three years of intensive training.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional grand parade at the famous Khetarpal Drill Square was replaced with a more subdued ceremony. The event was held in Habibulah Hall, the NDA’s main auditorium, and was attended only by the graduating cadets and some faculty members. Lieutenant General Asit Mistry, the NDA Commandant, presided over the ceremony.
A total of 335 cadets graduated from the academy, including 226 from the Army, 44 from the Navy, and 65 from the Air Force. The graduating class also included 20 cadets from foreign countries.
An AFPI press release highlighted the exceptional performance of its former students. Several cadets from the fifth AFPI course (2016-17) held senior positions within the graduating class. These included Academy Cadet Adjutant Loveneet Singh, Battalion Cadet Captain Rajdeep Singh, and Squadron Cadet Captain Arunav Laroiya.
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Adjutant Loveneet Singh was recognized with the Commandant’s medal for his dedication to duty, while Captain Arunav Laroiya received the same medal for exceptional leadership.
The families of these distinguished cadets come from humble backgrounds. Loveneet Singh’s father, Rupinder Singh, is a farmer from Jalalabad East, while Rajdeep Singh’s parents are teachers from Nangli village. Arunav Laroiya’s father is an assistant general manager for IT in Patiala.
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Due to the ongoing pandemic, the newly commissioned officers will be heading directly to their respective service academies instead of taking their scheduled leave. Meanwhile, the start of the next NDA course is likely to be delayed, as not all Service Selection Board (SSB) interviews have been completed.
BASED ON : NEWS REPORT FROM HT.
