Army welcomes 362 officers in passing-out parades at Chennai, Gaya

New Delhi,UPDATED: Sep 7, 2025 00:57 IST

The Indian Army held two passing-out parades (PoP) at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai and Gaya, commissioning 362 new officers, including women and foreign cadets.

155 officer cadets, including 25 women, were commissioned into various branches of the Army at the OTA in Chennai. The ceremony, held at the Parameswaran Drill Square, also saw 21 foreign cadets from nine countries graduate, reflecting India's commitment to military diplomacy. Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, the Chief of the Air Staff, served as the reviewing officer.

During the Chennai ceremony, several cadets received notable awards. Academy Cadet Adjutant (ACA) Raj Biswas was honoured with the prestigious Sword of Honour and Silver Medal, while Academy Under Officer (AUO) Parul Dhadwal received the Gold Medal, and Battalion Under Officer (BUO) Pranjal Dixit earned the Bronze Medal. The Pipping Ceremony involved cadets pledging their allegiance to the Constitution.

Addressing the new officers, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh emphasised the importance of core values, stating, "Wear your uniform with pride and purpose, lead from the front and always remember the core values taught to you by your parents, as these will be your guiding beacons to navigate through the career as well as life. Always remember, we are first a human being, then a citizen and thereafter a soldier. Therefore, always strive to be a good human being..."

The OTA in Gaya saw 207 cadets of the Short Service Commission (Technical) Entry, including 23 women, becoming officers. Lieutenant General Anindya Sengupta, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), reviewed the parade and commended the cadets for their perseverance, urging them to integrate tradition with innovation.

At Gaya, the Sword of Honour went to Battalion Under Officer Kulthe Dhruv. Other awards included gold for Monu Kumar, Silver for Piyush Dimri, and Bronze for Mukta Singh. The Kalidhar Company was awarded the Chief of Army Staff Banner as the Champion Company.

The ceremony in Gaya featured a poignant Wreath Laying Ceremony at the War Memorial, where tributes were paid to fallen soldiers. This was followed by a Pipping Ceremony, where cadets took their oaths to serve the nation with honour.

The Chief of Air Staff highlighted a key military operation, saying, "...Operation Sindoor has showcased exceptional coordination between the three services, synergy and integration within the armed forces and other agencies. You must keep furthering the spirit of jointness as you grow in service."

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