Chandigarh, October 12, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Seventeen women cadets from the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI), Mohali, have cleared the National Defence Academy (NDA) written examination, achieving what the Punjab government describes as the highest tally of successful women candidates from any government institute in the country, including Sainik Schools and Rashtriya Military Schools.
The achievement marks a significant milestone for women aspiring to join the Armed Forces, particularly in a system where, according to the state government, only 6 per cent of NDA seats are earmarked for women, compared with 94 per cent for men.
The successful cadets are 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.
Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Aman Arora congratulated the cadets, their families and the institute’s faculty, describing the result as a historic achievement for the state.
Arora said the success had placed Punjab at the forefront of efforts to empower girls to pursue careers in the Armed Forces. He added that the result vindicated the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government’s decision to establish an NDA preparatory wing for girls at Mai Bhago AFPI.
“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,” Arora said.
He said the result reflected the government’s vision of providing girls with high-quality preparation for a career in the Armed Forces.
“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,” he added.
Arora expressed confidence that the cadets would perform well in the Services Selection Board (SSB) process and said the institute’s results were expected to improve further in the coming years.
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