Cadet Adjutant Deepak Kandpal, hailing from Bageshwar in Uttarakhand and the son of a taxi driver, has scripted an inspiring success story by emerging as the best cadet of the 2025 batch at the National Defence Academy (NDA). He was awarded the prestigious President’s Gold Medal during the 149th Passing Out Parade (POP) held at the NDA, Khadakwasla.
The medal, which recognises overall excellence in academics, physical fitness, discipline, and leadership, was presented to Deepak by Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, who reviewed the parade as the Chief Guest.
A Journey of Grit: From Small Town to NDA Champion
Deepak grew up in Garud, a small town in Bageshwar district, where his family lived in a rented house. With limited financial resources and uncertain circumstances, his dream of joining the armed forces was far from easy. His father, a taxi driver, worked tirelessly to support his education.
But Deepak remained focused. He studied at St Adams Public School till Class 8 and later joined Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) Gagrigole, where he excelled academically, even topping his district in Class 12.
While pursuing graduation from Delhi University, Deepak simultaneously prepared for the NDA entrance exam—a challenge that demands academic strength, physical stamina, and determination. His perseverance paid off when he joined the academy in 2022.
Excellence at the Academy
Over three rigorous years at the NDA, Deepak proved himself across all spheres of military training:
- Academics
- Physical conditioning and endurance tasks
- Leadership development exercises
His all-round excellence earned him the top honour of the course, placing him above hundreds of fellow cadets.
NDA Passing Out Parade 2025: Key Highlights
This year’s 149th POP witnessed 328 cadets completing their training:
- 216 cadets received bachelor’s degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
- 72 from Science
- 92 from Computer Science
- 52 from Arts
- 18 foreign cadets from friendly nations graduated
- 112 Navy and Air Force cadets completed three years of their BTech programme
- They will proceed to INA Ezhimala and AFA Hyderabad for their final year
Addressing the cadets, Admiral Tripathi highlighted the growing participation of women in the armed forces, noting that this was the second batch of women cadets graduating from the NDA.
“Awards don’t define your abilities; your duties define you,” he told the cadets.
A Message for Aspirants: Hard Work Beats All Odds
Deepak Kandpal’s remarkable achievement stands as a powerful message for lakhs of NDA aspirants across India:
Your background does not define your destiny—your dedication does.
His story shows that with unwavering determination, relentless hard work, and the courage to dream big, even the toughest challenges can be overcome.
