The Indian Military Academy (IMA) held its prestigious Passing Out Parade (POP) on Saturday on the historic drill square in front of the Chatwood Building, commissioning 451 cadets into the armed forces of India and friendly nations.
Sri Lanka’s Army Chief, General Lasantha Rodrigo, an alumnus of the IMA’s 1990 batch, took the salute at the ceremonial parade as the reviewing officer. The event marked a significant milestone for 419 Indian cadets and 32 foreign cadets who completed their rigorous training and will now join the ranks of their respective national armies.
The IMA, established on October 1, 1932, has produced over 65,000 military officers, including cadets from 34 friendly foreign countries, reaffirming its stature as one of the premier military institutions in the world.
Meanwhile, on June 5, the Army Air Defence Centre in Gopalpur also held a Passing Out Parade for the fifth batch of Agniveers. The parade, reviewed by Brigadier Hemant Singh, Commandant of the Centre, saw 401 Agniveers take their ‘Antim Pag’ (final step) into active service.
Brigadier Singh praised the high standards of drill and discipline on display, noting that “a soldier’s discipline is forged on the drill square” and that the precision and synchronisation seen at the parade reflected the Agniveers’ commitment and training excellence.
The twin ceremonies highlighted the Indian Army’s continued tradition of grooming future military leaders through uncompromising standards of discipline, training, and service.