Centurion Defence Academy’s 18th Raising Day – Badhte Kadam: A Celebration of Dreams, Service and the Journey Ahead

18 years. Thousands of dreams. Countless stories of hard work. And one mission is to prepare young Indians for a life of discipline, leadership, and service to the nation.

Centurion Defence Academy is all set to celebrate its 18th Raising Day, “Badhte Kadam,” marking another important milestone in its journey of preparing young aspirants for careers in the Armed Forces.

What makes this celebration special is not just the completion of 18 years, but the people who will come together to be part of the occasion. From public representatives and senior administrators to educationists, police officers, sportspersons, writers and families connected with India’s military legacy, the event reflects the many different dimensions of service and nation-building.

18 Years of Taking Badhte Kadam

Every successful officer once started as an aspirant.

Someone who was preparing for the NDA after school. Someone is trying to clear CDS or AFCAT. Someone appearing for SSB for the first time and wondering what the interview would be like.

Over the past 18 years, Centurion Defence Academy has been part of many such journeys.

The academy has worked with aspirants preparing for NDA, CDS, AFCAT, MNS, SSB, and other defence examinations, helping them prepare not only for an examination but also for the larger responsibilities that come with becoming an officer.

And that is what “Badhte Kadam” represents moving forward, one step at a time.

A Gathering That Represents Different Faces of India

The 18th Raising Day promises to bring together a good blend of people from all walks of life.

The inclusion of Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, makes this event more relevant in terms of public leadership. This will be complemented by the participation of Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, President, BJP Uttar Pradesh, and Shri Danish Azad Ansari, Minister in the Uttar Pradesh Government.

Dr SP Singh, Member of Parliament of Pratapgarh, will also be present on this occasion, adding another feather to its cap.

Their presence holds special significance for those young souls who are preparing themselves to step into a field that demands a lot from one in terms of leadership, responsibility and commitment to the nation.

From Classrooms to Leadership: The Role of Education

Defence preparation is not only about clearing an examination. It is also about developing the mindset to take responsibility.

That is why the presence of education leaders at the celebration is equally significant.

Prof. Vinay K. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, will be among the distinguished guests at the event.

For students, interactions with accomplished personalities from the education sector can offer a wider perspective on learning, discipline, and personal growth.

After all, preparation for a career in the Armed Forces is not limited to textbooks. It involves curiosity, awareness, communication, confidence, and the ability to keep learning.

Administrative and Police Leadership Under One Roof

The event will also bring together senior officers from administration and policing.

IAS Vishak G. Iyer, District Magistrate, Lucknow, and IAS Arun Prakash, Special Secretary, Revenue, Lucknow, will be part of the distinguished gathering.

Their presence brings the perspective of civil administration and public service to an occasion centred around young people aspiring to serve the country.

The guest list also includes senior police leadership, with Dr Akhilesh Nigam, IPS, IG/CID, Lucknow, and Dr Arvind Chaturvedi, IPS, DIG (Retd.), Lucknow, joining the celebration.

For defence aspirants, meeting people who have spent years working in demanding leadership roles can be a valuable experience. It allows students to understand that public service, regardless of the uniform or institution, ultimately comes down to responsibility, integrity, and service to society.

A Special Connection With India's Military Legacy

Some moments at the celebration will carry a deeper emotional significance.

Mr Manmohan Pandey and his family, brother of Capt Manoj Pandey, will be part of the occasion. Capt Manoj Pandey’s name remains deeply associated with courage, sacrifice, and the highest traditions of the Indian Armed Forces.

The event will also welcome the parents of Kirti Chakra (P) Lt Shashank Tiwari.

Their presence is a reminder that behind every military story are families who stand alongside their sons and daughters through years of preparation, training, service, and sacrifice.

For young aspirants sitting in the audience, these interactions can offer something that no textbook can teach: a real understanding of what service to the nation means.

When Sport Meets the Spirit of Service

The celebration will also have a sporting icon among its distinguished guests.

Vijender Singh, Indian boxing icon and Olympic medallist, will be part of the event.

His journey is a powerful example of what consistent effort, discipline, and resilience can achieve.

For defence aspirants, that message is especially relevant.

Whether it is preparing for a written examination, clearing SSB, or training for physical challenges, success rarely comes overnight. It comes from showing up every day, working on weaknesses, and refusing to stop when things get difficult.

That is the same spirit that connects sport with military preparation.

Words That Inspire: Manoj Muntashir Joins Badhte Kadam

Adding a different but equally powerful dimension to the celebration will be Manoj Muntashir, lyricist, writer, and poet.

Known for his powerful writing and ability to connect emotions with words, his presence is expected to bring a unique energy to the occasion.

For young people chasing ambitious goals, sometimes a few meaningful words are enough to reignite motivation.

And that fits perfectly with the spirit of Badhte Kadam because every journey has moments when you need someone to remind you why you started.

Celebrating 20 Recommended Candidates and Their Families

At the heart of the event, however, will remain the students.

The celebration will include 20 recommended candidates, along with parents of students who have been an important part of their children’s journey.

A recommendation is never just a student’s achievement.

Behind it are months of preparation, early mornings, difficult mock tests, SSB practice, family support, and plenty of moments of self-doubt.

For parents, watching their child move closer to becoming an officer is an emotional milestone of its own.

The presence of students and their families, therefore, makes Badhte Kadam more than an institutional celebration. It makes it a celebration of dreams that are slowly turning into reality.

18 Years Completed. The Journey Continues.

Eighteen years is indeed a great achievement and one that should be celebrated.

However, when it comes to an institute dedicated to training its young students to become future officers, the million-dollar question is: What next?

And the answer to that lies in evolution!

The defence examination process is evolving. The expectations from aspirants are evolving. Today’s students have more information available to them than ever before. All they require now is proper guidance and an atmosphere wherein they can become a better version of themselves.

This is where the next phase of Centurion’s story is set to unfold.

Badhte Kadam is not a retrospection into the journey that we have completed. It is a retrospection into our journey, filled with pride and determination to move ahead.

Badhte Kadam: The Next Step Begins Here

The 18th Raising Day will bring together a motley crowd – administrators, public figures, educators, policemen, sportspersons, writers, students, and families associated with India’s military tradition.

There is something that connects all these people – service, success, and the urge to contribute.

This could be what Badhte Kadam stands for.

Keep learning.

Keep growing.

Keep progressing.

For while today every boy sitting in a classroom could still find it a distant dream to don the uniform,

Every journey starts with a single step.

And now, after 18 years of such steps, we are taking yet another Badhte Kadam at Centurion Defence Academy.