Indian Air Force Commissioning Ceremony at Air Force Academy

On June 13, 2026, the Indian Air Force commissioned 231 Flight Cadets as officers following their graduation from the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad. The cohort included 194 men and 37 women, with the latter representing the first batch of women entrants from the National Defence Academy. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh reviewed the Combined Graduation Parade of the 217 Course and awarded the 'President's Commission' to the graduating cadets, marking the completion of their pre-commissioning training for both Flying and Ground Duty branches of the IAF.

In addition to the IAF cadets, nine officers from the Indian Navy, three from the Indian Coast Guard, and two from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam were awarded 'Wings' during the ceremony. Three officers also received 'Brevets' upon completion of their navigation training.

Raksha Mantri's Address and Key Themes

Shri Rajnath Singh emphasized the IAF's historical significance, noting its role in altering the course of the 1947-48 war in Kashmir through the Srinagar airlift and its decisive air strikes during the 1971 war. He also highlighted the IAF's performance in the 2025 Operation Sindoor, where terror hideouts were destroyed using indigenous platforms and disciplined officers. The Raksha Mantri urged the newly commissioned officers to remain vigilant against emerging challenges, particularly in modern warfare where adversaries may not be visible and weapons include systems like radars, satellites, drones, sensors, and robotics. He stressed the need to adapt, adopt, and modify futuristic warfare systems and strategies to gain a decisive edge, combining hard work with smart work and brilliance.

Shri Rajnath Singh also emphasized the importance of continuous learning and training, noting that the 'wings' on their shoulders symbolize the trust of every Indian. He extended special congratulations to the women officers, stating that the growing 'Nari Shakti' would strengthen the IAF and make it more robust and balanced. He also wished success to the Vietnamese cadets, expressing confidence that their training would bolster friendship between the two countries.

Ceremonial Events and Awards

The parade featured a General Salute to the Reviewing Officer, followed by an impressive march past and a synchronized flypast led by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. The flypast included four types of trainer aircraft: Pilatus PC-7 Mk II, Hawk, Kiran, and Chetak. The event also included displays by the Akash Ganga team, the 'Shakti' Woman Air Warrior Drill Team, and aerobatics displays by the Su-30 MKI, Sarang helicopter display team, and Suryakiran Aerobatic Team.

Awards were presented to top-performing officers: Flying Officer Ashish Kumar Yadav received the 'President's Plaque' and the 'Nawanagar Sword of Honour' for standing first in the overall order of merit in the Pilot Course. Flying Officer Ekta Gupta was awarded the 'President's Plaque' for standing first in the Navigation stream, and Flying Officer Divyanshi Singh received the same award for topping the Ground Duty branches.

The commissioning ceremony included an oath administered to the new officers, who pledged to safeguard the sovereignty and honour of the country. Senior IAF officials present included Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Training Command Air Marshal S Shrinivas and Commandant of AFA Air Marshal Rahul Bhasin.