Chandigarh, October 12
In a landmark achievement for women’s empowerment and defence education, 17 lady cadets from Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI), Mohali, have cleared the National Defence Academy (NDA) written examination, recording the highest-ever tally of female qualifiers from any government institute in the country, including Sainik Schools and Rashtriya Military Schools.
The 17 successful cadets — Tanvi, Urvi, Simranpreet Kaur, Komalpreet Kaur, Pahuljeet Kaur, Jasmeet Kaur, Muskanpreet Kaur, Garima, Anisha, Pranya Kargwal, Jashandeep Kaur, Samridhi, Arshkiran Kaur, Sehajpreet Kaur, Japneet Kaur, Khushi and Jasleen Kaur — have achieved this remarkable feat despite the intense competition for entry into the Armed Forces. The achievement is particularly significant given that women account for only 6% of NDA seats, compared with 94% allocated to men.
watch…MRSAFPI Mohali Achieves Record 87.7% Success Rate in NDA Written Exam, 57 Cadets Qualify
Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Aman Arora described the achievement as historic, stating that it has placed Punjab at the forefront of efforts to empower young women to pursue careers in the Armed Forces.
He said the outstanding result vindicates the visionary decision of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government to establish a dedicated NDA preparatory wing for girls at Mai Bhago AFPI. Expressing confidence in the institute’s future, he added that this was only the beginning and that even better results could be expected in the coming years.
Congratulating the successful cadets, their families and the institute’s faculty, Aman Arora said, “I am immensely proud of the 17 lady cadets of Mai Bhago AFPI. This is not just the victory of these young women, but a historic moment for Punjab. To break through a system where 94% of seats are for boys requires extraordinary grit and brilliance, and our daughters have displayed it in abundance.”
He further said, “This result is a resounding endorsement of our government’s vision to empower our daughters with world-class training. Mai Bhago AFPI stands as a beacon of excellence today, and I am confident these cadets will make the nation proud in the SSB and beyond.”
The achievement marks a significant milestone for Mai Bhago AFPI and reinforces Punjab’s commitment to providing young women with opportunities, quality training and the confidence to pursue careers in the defence services. The successful cadets will now look ahead to the next stages of the selection process, including the Services Selection Board (SSB) assessment.
