National Defence Academy 149 Passing Out Parade - Autumn Term 2025

The Passing Out Parade (POP) of the National Defence Academy (NDA) is more than just a ceremonial event; it is an emotional milestone that marks the transformation of young cadets into commissioned officers of the Indian Armed Forces. This year’s POP was a magnificent blend of discipline, tradition, military precision, inspiring stories, and the rich legacy carried forward by generations of NDA alumni. From aerial flypasts to marching contingents, from award-winning cadets to heart-stirring tributes, the parade captured the spirit of courage, sacrifice, and honour that defines India’s premier military training institution.

But this POP was extra special for us because many proud students of Centurion Defence Academy marched across the famed drill square and joined the ranks of India’s future military leaders. Before we highlight their achievements, let’s take a closer look at the grandeur of the parade and the legacy it represents.

A Legacy Forged in Glory

The NDA’s alumni list reads like a Who’s Who of Indian military heroes, etched with stories of bravery from battlefields across decades. Over the years, NDA cadets have been awarded:

3 Param Vir Chakras
31 Maha Vir Chakras
167 Vir Chakras
12 Ashok Chakras
47 Kirti Chakras
1168 Shaurya and other gallantry awards

These are not just medals; they represent stories of valour, sacrifice, and leadership that continue to inspire every young cadet.

Some of the most iconic names remain forever engraved in NDA’s history, Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal, and Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, to name just a few. Their bravery continues to guide every cadet who walks past the Hut of Remembrance, a sacred symbol built brick by brick by the 10th to 17th courses.

A Parade of Pride: 18 Contingents March Forward

One of the grandest sights of the POP was the March Past by contingents of 18-strong squadrons, namely Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Kilo, Mike, Romeo, India, Juliet, Oscar, November, Quebec, and many more, with each standing for unity, strength, and the unique identity of a squadron.

And leading them was the Nishan Toli proudly carrying the President’s Colours mark of supreme honour bestowed upon the Academy.

Aerial Glory: Flypasts that Electrified the Parade Ground

The skies above NDA rumbled with the thunder of aviation excellence when three spectacular formations flew over the parade:

1. Chetak Helicopters in Ensign Formation

The formation, led by Wing Commander Bhushan Rao, symbolised the long-standing relationship of the Indian Air Force with NDA and its young aviators.

2. Super Dimona Aircraft in Trishakti Formation

The formation was led by experienced officers such as Wing Commander Vijay Shelke and Wing Commander Rahul Sharma, and represented synergy among the three services.

3. 3230 Aircraft in Lightning Formation

A dramatic final flypast that added power and emotion to the ceremony.

Celebrating Extraordinary Achievements Beyond the Battlefield

NDA’s legacy is not confined to military valour alone. Its alumni have conquered the peaks of the Himalayas, rounded the globe, swum the English Channel, and won Olympic medals.

Some standout achievers include:

Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma: First Indian in space
Commander Dilip Donde: First Indian solo circumnavigator
Captain HD Motiwala: Winner of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and multiple sporting honours
Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: Olympic silver medallist, Arjuna awardee
Major Abhijeet Singh: Everest summiter
Wing Commander Yashwant Petkar: Double English Channel swimmer

This varied set of achievements represents the all-around development emphasised at NDA.

Performance Highlights of Autumn Term 2025

The achievements of cadets in different competitions were also presented within the POP:

Inter Squadron Volleyball: Juliet Squadron won
Inter-Squadron Football: Won by Charlie Squadron
Inter-Squadron Boxing: Won by the India Squadron
Inter-Squadron Cross Country: Won by Alpha Squadron

The Equestrian Team was a major highlight, winning 16 medals in the Army Equestrian Championship 2025, including 1 Gold, 9 Silver, and 6 Bronze medals.

Cadet Daksh Chaturvedi won the Best Rider Trophy, while several cadets earned Blues, Half Blues, and Merit Cards for their exceptional performance.

Awards of the Passing Out Course

Among the top honours:

President’s Gold Medal: Academy Cadet Adjutant Deepak Kandpal
President’s Silver Medal: Academy Cadet Captain Siddharth Singh
President’s Bronze Medal: Divisional Cadet Captain Siddhi Jain

These winners ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the overall order of merit of the passing-out course.

Centurion Defence Academy Shines Again: Our Students in the POP

A Ceremony That Inspires the Next Generation

One of the proudest moments for Centurion Defence Academy has been seeing our students march in this prestigious Passing Out Parade. Their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to the uniform have finally borne fruit.

Here are the outstanding Centurions who passed out in this POP:

Divisional Cadet Captain Siddhi Jain

Divisional Cadet Captain Siddhi Jain, an NDA trailblazer from the second batch of women cadets, created history by becoming the first female cadet to win the President’s Medal for overall order of merit. From preparing for IIT-JEE in Kota to standing proudly on the NDA parade ground, her journey reflects determination, resilience, and the spirit of breaking barriers. She will soon join the Indian Air Force.

Success Story of AIR-14 Recommended Candidate of NDA-149

Shrutika Mishra

Shrutika Mishra, hailing from Lucknow, secured an all-India rank of 5 in NDA-149 and was recommended by 11 SSB Allahabad. Initially preparing for a legal career, she pivoted to the NDA following the Supreme Court’s historic judgment allowing women candidates.

She overcame challenges, including a leg fracture, showcasing resilience, determination, and leadership. Shrutika now stands as an inspiration for aspiring female cadets.

Success Story of AIR-5 Recommended Candidate of NDA-149

Chandra Prakash Yadav

Chandra Prakash Yadav, who got 71st All India Rank in NDA-149, cleared 14 SSB Allahabad in his fourth attempt. He converted the repeated failures into success with guidance provided by experienced SSB mentors and Sir Shishir Dixit through perseverance, personalised coaching, and above all, resilience.

It shows that hard work, temperament development, and determination can together help achieve this success and motivate aspirants to chase their defence dreams relentlessly.

Success Story of NDA-149 Recommended Chandra Prakash

Nishit

Nishit belongs to Sikkim, and he cleared the SSB interview of the NDA 149th course at 12 SSB Bangalore in his fourth attempt with great persistence. He was given personalised coaching in developing leadership traits and personality and in enhancing his SSB skills.

Nishit’s success was thus a result of expert guidance, planned mentorship, and focus on all-around preparation. This proves that hard work put in by the candidate and the right mentoring reap success when it comes to NDA selection.

Arpit Raj Singh

Arpit Raj Singh, recommended from 1 AFSB Dehradun, secured his place in NDA-149 by fulfilling his father’s dream of serving the Indian Army. Hailing from Bajeura Village, a hub of Indian Army families, Arpit combined his academic excellence with rigorous SSB preparation.

He showed, through continuous hard work, perseverance, leadership, and officer-like qualities, that he motivated future defence aspirants from rural backgrounds.

Shakti Singh

Shakti Singh, recommended from 11 SSB Allahabad, turned his dream of joining the Indian Armed Forces into reality through relentless hard work and focused preparation.

Shakti excelled in OIR, psych tests, GTO, and personal interviews. His disciplined approach, calm demeanour, and perseverance exemplify how dedication can lead to success in NDA selection.

Success Story of NDA-149 Recommended Shakti Singh

Praveen Bishnoi

Praveen Bishnoi from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, successfully cleared the NDA 149th course SSB interview at 19 SSB Allahabad and secured All India Rank 415. Coming from a family with a military background, Praveen faced multiple setbacks, including failures in NDA written exams and three screen-outs. With Centurion’s dedicated guidance, psychological mentoring, and consistent practice in GTO and psych tests, Praveen persevered and achieved his lifelong dream of joining the Indian Armed Forces.

Success Story of NDA 149 Topper Praveen Bishnoi

Gaurav Singh

Gaurav Singh Vishen from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, successfully cleared the NDA 149th course SSB interview at 18 SSB Allahabad and secured All India Rank 199. With structured guidance, psychological mentorship, and expert training in GTO and PPDT, Gaurav transformed his weaknesses into strengths. His perseverance, consistent practice, and focus on qualitative performance helped him achieve his dream of joining the prestigious National Defence Academy.

The Passing Out Parade is more than an event; it is a reminder that India’s strength lies in the hands of young men and women who choose service over comfort, courage over fear, and duty over everything else.

For aspirants watching from afar, the message is clear:

With the right training, mindset, and mentorship, you too can walk on this parade ground someday.

And Centurion Defence Academy stands committed to helping every serious defence aspirant realise that dream.

As the count comes down to Nov 30, 2025, the nation’s pride swells with the promise of a new generation of warriors set to defend India’s sovereignty and integrity. Their future lies with them, and they are set to lead with honour and distinction. Today, we all witnessed the NDA 149 Course Passing Out Parade.