Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka, who secured the highest rank among women candidates in the first National Defence Academy entrance examination opened to women, has officially been commissioned into the Indian Army. She earned her stars during the Passing Out Parade held at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun on 13 June 2026.
Her commissioning marked the successful completion of a demanding four-year military training journey that began at the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla and concluded at the Indian Military Academy. Lieutenant Dhaka was among the first women to follow the traditional NDA-to-IMA training route and receive a permanent commission in the Army.
From growing up in military cantonments to becoming an officer herself, her journey reflects determination, academic excellence, family inspiration and the growing participation of women in the leadership structure of the Indian Armed Forces.
Raised in a Family with a Tradition of Military Service
Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka traces her roots to Sundana village in Haryana’s Rohtak district. She was raised in a family whose connection with the Indian Army extends across generations.
Her grandfather, retired Subedar Chanderbhan Dhaka, was the first member of the family to serve in uniform. The tradition was subsequently carried forward by her father, Vijay Kumar Dhaka, who retired as a Naib Subedar from the Army Service Corps.
Having grown up in Army cantonments at places including Roorkee, Delhi, Chandimandir and Chandigarh, Shanan became familiar with military life at an early age. The disciplined environment, the respect associated with the uniform and the strong sense of responsibility displayed by serving personnel left a lasting impression on her.
Her elder sister also chose a career connected with the Armed Forces and serves in the Military Nursing Service. The family’s continued association with the military became an important source of motivation for Shanan when she began considering her future career.
Her parents encouraged their daughters to pursue their ambitions independently and provided them with the freedom and support needed to compete for challenging professional opportunities.
An Academically Outstanding Student
Long before she emerged as one of the most prominent candidates in the historic first women’s NDA examination, Shanan had established an impressive academic record.
She studied at Army Public Schools in different cities, including Roorkee, Jaipur and Chandimandir. Despite changing schools as the family moved between military stations, she maintained consistently high academic standards.
She reportedly secured 97.4 per cent marks in Class 10 and 98.2 per cent in Class 12. Her strong performance reflected the focus, discipline and ability to adapt that would later become essential during military training.
After completing school, she enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts programme at Lady Shri Ram College for Women in Delhi. At that stage, the traditional route available to her for joining the Army as a commissioned officer would have required completing graduation and subsequently appearing for the Combined Defence Services examination.
However, a historic legal and institutional development soon opened an entirely new pathway.
Supreme Court Decision Opened NDA to Women
In 2021, the doors of the National Defence Academy were opened to women candidates following the intervention of the Supreme Court. The decision created an opportunity for women to enter the tri-services academy directly after completing Class 12 and undergo the same foundational military training traditionally undertaken by male cadets.
For Shanan, the announcement changed the direction of her career. Instead of waiting until graduation to compete through the CDS examination, she decided to apply for the NDA examination at the earliest opportunity.
Her upbringing in cantonment areas and the military service of her grandfather and father had already given her a close understanding of Army life. The newly opened NDA route offered her the opportunity to begin officer training much earlier and pursue the profession she had admired since childhood.
She appeared for the examination conducted on 14 November 2021. The competition was exceptionally intense, with more than 5.75 lakh applicants reportedly registering for the examination, including approximately 1.77 lakh women.
Shanan delivered an exceptional performance. She secured All India Rank 10 in the overall merit list and stood first among all women candidates.
The result made her the first women’s NDA entrance examination topper and placed her among the most recognised members of the inaugural batch.
Selected for the Historic First Batch of Women at NDA
Following the written examination, Service Selection Board process, medical assessment and final merit list, Shanan was selected to join the National Defence Academy.
She became part of the first batch of 19 women cadets admitted to the academy in June 2022. Of these cadets, 10 had been selected for the Indian Army, while the others were allocated to the Navy and Air Force.
Their arrival at NDA represented a major transformation in the history of the institution. For the first time, women cadets trained at the academy alongside their male counterparts as part of the regular course.
The training programme tested cadets across academics, physical fitness, military skills, outdoor exercises, drill, leadership and endurance. The women cadets were expected to meet the demanding standards required to develop future officers of the Armed Forces.
For Shanan, joining NDA was not merely an individual achievement. She was also conscious that the performance of the first batch would influence the experiences and expectations of women cadets who followed them.
Three Years of Demanding Training at Khadakwasla
Shanan joined the 148th NDA Course and spent three years undergoing joint training at the tri-services academy in Khadakwasla.
The NDA training system is designed to develop mental resilience, physical stamina, teamwork, discipline and leadership. Cadets must balance rigorous academic schedules with drill, sports, field activities, camps and military instruction.
The transition from being an academically successful student to functioning within a highly structured military environment required considerable adjustment. However, her familiarity with cantonment life and her clear motivation to serve in the Army helped her remain focused throughout the programme.
Along with the other pioneering women cadets, she completed the same broad training framework followed by the course. Their progress was closely watched because they represented the first generation of women to enter the Armed Forces through NDA.
After successfully completing the three-year programme, Shanan graduated from NDA during the Passing Out Parade held on 30 May 2025.
The parade marked the end of her foundational tri-services training but not the completion of her journey towards commissioning.
Final Phase of Training at the Indian Military Academy
As an Army cadet, Shanan proceeded from NDA to the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun for the final phase of her pre-commission training.
At IMA, the focus shifted more specifically towards preparing cadets for leadership responsibilities in the Indian Army. The training included tactical instruction, field exercises, weapon handling, physical conditioning, military administration and the development of command abilities.
The academy prepares officer cadets to lead soldiers under difficult conditions and make decisions carrying significant operational and human consequences. The final year therefore required sustained physical effort, professional learning and emotional resilience.
Shanan and the other women cadets from the inaugural NDA batch trained as part of the IMA regular course. Their presence marked another institutional milestone, as they became the first women to complete the NDA-to-IMA pathway followed by generations of Army officers.
Commissioned During the 158th IMA Passing Out Parade
Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka was commissioned during the Passing Out Parade of the 158th Regular Course at the Indian Military Academy on 13 June 2026.
President Droupadi Murmu, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, reviewed the parade. Senior military officers, instructors and family members of the cadets were present for the ceremony.
The parade saw hundreds of officer cadets complete their training and take the final steps towards becoming commissioned officers. Among them were nine women from the first NDA batch who completed their training at IMA.
Their commissioning was historically significant because they were among the first women officers to emerge from the NDA system and complete the Army’s regular pre-commissioning training route.
After marching past the iconic Chetwode Building and completing the traditional final step, the cadets formally entered the officer cadre of the Indian Army.
The parade was followed by the pipping ceremony, during which family members placed the rank insignia of lieutenant on the shoulders of the newly commissioned officers.
For the Dhaka family, the moment represented the continuation of a military tradition begun by Shanan’s grandfather and carried forward by her father. However, it also marked a significant transformation—from earlier generations serving as soldiers and junior leaders to Shanan entering the Army as a commissioned officer.
Posted to the Challenging Eastern Ladakh Region
Following her commissioning, Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka was reportedly posted to eastern Ladakh, one of the country’s most strategically important and physically demanding regions.
Military personnel deployed in the region must operate in high-altitude conditions marked by low oxygen levels, extreme temperatures and difficult terrain. An assignment in such an area requires physical fitness, professional competence and considerable mental resilience.
For a newly commissioned officer, the posting offers an opportunity to begin learning the responsibilities of leading troops in a challenging operational environment.
Her transition from a cadet undergoing supervised training to an officer entrusted with the welfare, discipline and leadership of soldiers marks the beginning of an entirely new chapter.
Inspired by Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Lieutenant Dhaka has cited former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as one of the personalities who inspired her. She admired his journey, simplicity, dedication and ability to achieve distinction while remaining grounded.
Her own approach to success has similarly centred on preparation, self-belief and sustained hard work. Despite emerging as the highest-ranked woman in the first NDA examination, she has consistently emphasised that joining the Armed Forces must be driven by genuine commitment rather than fascination with rank, authority or the outward appeal of the uniform.
She has encouraged young aspirants to understand the demands of military service before choosing it as a profession. According to her message to candidates, the Armed Forces require passion, perseverance and a willingness to work under difficult circumstances.
Her advice to young people is to dream ambitiously but remain prepared to put in the prolonged effort required to achieve those dreams.
A Proud Moment for the Dhaka Family
Shanan’s commissioning was an emotional and proud occasion for her parents. Her father viewed the achievement as the latest chapter in the family’s tradition of service to the nation.
For him, watching his daughter receive the lieutenant’s stars at IMA was particularly meaningful because the military legacy had begun with Shanan’s grandfather and continued through multiple generations.
The family has also expressed the hope that more girls will consider the Armed Forces as a professional choice. Military service, they believe, provides young women with an opportunity to lead, serve the nation and build a life defined by responsibility and purpose.
Shanan’s success also highlights the importance of family support in enabling women to enter professions that have traditionally remained dominated by men.
A Symbol of Expanding Opportunities for Women
Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka’s journey represents much more than success in an entrance examination. She belongs to a generation of women who entered an institution undergoing historic change and carried the responsibility of proving themselves through every stage of training.
From securing the first position among women candidates in the NDA examination to completing three years of training at Khadakwasla and another year at IMA, her achievement required consistent performance over several years.
Her commissioning demonstrates that women are increasingly being provided access to military training pathways that prepare officers for long-term careers and leadership roles.
The first women NDA cadets entered the academy at a time when the decision was still viewed as an experiment by many observers. Their graduation and commissioning have now converted that decision into a visible reality.
Future batches of women cadets will follow a path made easier by the achievements, experiences and lessons of pioneers such as Lieutenant Dhaka.
From Cantonment Childhood to a Life in Uniform
As a child, Shanan observed Army life from within cantonment communities. She saw officers and soldiers at work, understood the respect associated with military service and learned about the sacrifices demanded by the profession.
Years later, she returned to that world not as the daughter or granddaughter of a soldier, but as a commissioned officer in her own right.
Her transformation from a school student with exceptional academic scores to the first women’s NDA topper and eventually an Indian Army officer is an inspiring example for defence aspirants throughout the country.
Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka now begins the most important phase of her journey—leading soldiers and serving the nation in uniform. Her accomplishments have already earned her a place in the history of women’s entry into NDA, but her career as an Army officer has only just begun.
