Haryana Leads in Women Cadets at NDA Among 121 Under Training:

Out of 121 women cadets currently undergoing rigorous three-year training at the tri-Service National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, Pune, 34 belong to Haryana. Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth shared this information in the Rajya Sabha.

After Haryana, Uttar Pradesh has the second-highest number of women cadets, with 27, followed by Rajasthan (13), Maharashtra (11), Madhya Pradesh (6), and Punjab (4).

Historic Entry of Women in NDA

The inclusion of women in NDA became possible after a significant Supreme Court ruling in August 2021. The court directed the Centre to allow women to appear for the NDA entrance examination. The first batch of female cadets joined the academy in August 2022.

This ruling came almost three decades after women were allowed to serve as short-service commission (SSC) officers in select branches of the armed forces. Previously, the Supreme Court had also ruled that women SSC officers in the Indian Army were eligible for permanent commission and command roles.

Selection Process for NDA Cadets

The NDA selection process is conducted nationally without any state or Union Territory-based quota. The selection includes:

A written examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
An interview and physical fitness assessment by the Services Selection Board (SSB)

The first batch of female cadets began their training at NDA in August 2022, marking a historic milestone in the integration of women into the Indian armed forces.