Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Command, reviewed the Winter Term Passing Out Parade at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Gaya on March 7, 2026. The ceremony marked a proud milestone as a total of 281 officer cadets were commissioned into the Indian Army after successfully completing their rigorous training.
The newly commissioned officers included 253 Officer Cadets from SSC (Tech) Men–64 and 28 Officer Cadets from SSC (Tech) Women–35 courses. The parade showcased the culmination of months of demanding military training designed to transform young aspirants into capable leaders ready to serve the nation.
During the ceremony, Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth congratulated the young officers and praised their dedication, perseverance, and unwavering commitment that enabled them to successfully complete their training and earn the coveted ranks in the Indian Army. He commended the cadets for their discipline, resilience, and determination displayed throughout the challenging training process.
In his address to the newly commissioned officers, the Army Commander highlighted the rapidly evolving nature of modern warfare. He noted that emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, cyber capabilities, space-based systems, and the electromagnetic spectrum are significantly reshaping the future battlefield. He emphasized that modern conflicts increasingly involve information dominance and multi-domain operations, making warfare more complex and unpredictable.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, Lt Gen Seth stated that the operation demonstrated the Indian Army’s ability to respond swiftly and precisely while effectively integrating multi-domain capabilities to maintain operational dominance. He said such operations reflect the professionalism and preparedness of the armed forces in dealing with emerging security challenges.
The Army Commander also spoke about the broader role of the Armed Forces in supporting India’s journey toward the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He emphasized that in a rapidly changing global and regional security environment, the armed forces remain a crucial pillar in ensuring national stability, security, and progress.
Encouraging the young officers to prepare themselves for future challenges, Lt Gen Seth urged them to remain intellectually agile, technologically aware, and operationally adaptive. He stressed that leadership in uniform requires not only professional competence but also strong moral character.
He reminded the officers that true military leadership demands moral courage, confidence, compassion, firmness, and humility. Concluding his address, he reiterated the timeless principle of military service — that the safety, honour, and welfare of the country must always come first.
