A total of 601 cadets were inducted into the Indian army as officers after a passing-out parade at the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun on Saturday. The parade was reviewed by General Sher Mohammad Karimi, Chief of General Staff, Afghan National Army.
Besides the 601, 64 foreign cadets from friendly countries also passed out of the academy. The gentlemen cadets showed tremendous enthusiasm, vigour and zeal to put up an excellent parade before the reviewing officer and the august gathering.
Uttar Pradesh, with 103 officers, topped the list of producing the maximum number of officers among all other states in this batch. Haryana - 73, Uttarakhand - 51 and Delhi - 47 followed. With the completion of the autumn term, 55,425 Indian and 1,742 foreign cadets have graduated from the Indian Military Academy since its inception in 1932.
Praising the IMA, General Karimi termed it as one of the best military academies in the world.
The Afghan Army General addressed the gentlemen cadets by saying: "At the military academies, the basic training instills a sense of discipline, an unflinching self-confidence, imbibing in us the patriotic fervour. This becomes our conscience keeper to take the right decision and put our best foot forward unhesitant, keeping the interest of our country, our motherland at the forefront."
Despite bad weather, the passing-out ceremony went as scheduled. The young officers presented a smart parade in the backdrop of the picturesque Chetwode building.
The gentlemen cadets were presented individual awards for their performance. The Sword of Honour was awarded to Bhanu Pratap who was adjudged as the Best All-Round Cadet during the training. Pawan Kumar Sangwan was awarded a gold medal for the first position in the course, Pankaj Kumar was given silver for the second position and Aditya Kumar Tyagi received bronze for standing third.
The passing-out parade was witnessed by military and civil dignitaries and the family members, relatives and friends of the young officers.
Earlier this week, the parents and relatives of the newly commissioned officers witnessed the wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial, the sound and light show, the multi activity display and the grand passing-out parade.
