Punjab government gives nod for NDA preparatory wing for girls

In a big decision, the Punjab government has given the approval to start a preparatory wing of the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (Girls), SAS Nagar, Mohali.

Chandigarh (Punjab) : To realize the dream of Punjabi girls aspiring to join the security services, the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has organized the National Defense Academy (NDA) at My Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (Girls), SAS Nagar (Mohali) from this educational session. The NDA has given the approval to start the preparatory wing. With this decision, Punjab claims to be the leading state in terms of providing opportunities to girls in defence services.

Online registration for the exam has begun. Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Aman Arora said that this initiative will prove to be important in the empowerment of women in the state as it will enable thousands of girls in the state to serve as commissioned officers in the defence services. He said that the online registration for the entrance exam to be held on June 4, 2023, has started and the last date of registration is May 28, 2023.

Aman Arora said that the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute in Mohali is already conducting a training course for boys from Punjab who want to join the NDA to serve the country. My Bhago AFPI has taken this first-of-its-kind initiative by offering an NDA training course exclusively for girls aspiring to join defence services.

The central government paved the way for women to enrol in the National Defense Academy (NDA) two years ago. Lady cadet Dilpreet Kaur of Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute secured the 27th rank in the combined merit of boys and girls across the country. She was among the top three in the overall ranking of girls and secured the first rank from Punjab.

Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (Girls) Director Maj Gen J S Sandhu (Retired) said that 10 girls will be selected for the first batch this year and to apply for the NDA training course, these girls must have passed the 10th class examination in the year 2023 and they must be residents of Punjab. All the living expenses including the training of the girls selected in the institute will be borne by the state government.