In a remarkable achievement for Punjab and women aspiring to join the Armed Forces, Mehakpreet Kaur, a cadet of the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls (AFPI), has secured All India Rank (AIR) 1 in the Air Force Academy merit list.
Mehakpreet, the daughter of farmer Amarjit Singh and Rupinder Kaur from Paprali village in Ropar district, emerged as the country’s top-ranked candidate for entry into the Air Force Academy, achieving the feat despite the highly limited number of vacancies available for women in the defence services.
Adding to the institute’s success, fellow cadet Komalpreet Kaur secured AIR 18 for entry into the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla. She is the daughter of Havildar Gurmeet Singh of the Indian Army and Baljit Kaur from Shahura village in Amritsar district.
Both cadets hail from humble backgrounds and embody the institute’s guiding motto, “Shubh Karman Te Kabhu Na Taraun”—never to shy away from righteous action.
Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Aman Arora congratulated the two achievers, stating that their success reflects the aspirations of a new Punjab and serves as an inspiration for young women across the state.
He noted that the Punjab Government’s decision to establish an NDA Preparatory Wing for girls at Mai Bhago AFPI in 2023 has begun yielding results at the national level within just three years of its launch.
Major General Jasbir Singh Sandhu (Retd.), Director of Mai Bhago AFPI, described Mehakpreet’s AIR 1 achievement as extraordinary given the intense competition and limited opportunities available for women candidates. He said both cadets have significantly strengthened the institute’s mission of encouraging more daughters of Punjab to pursue careers in the Armed Forces.
The achievement highlights the growing contribution of military preparatory institutions in nurturing future women officers and reflects the increasing participation of women in India’s defence services.
With Mehakpreet set to join the Air Force Academy and Komalpreet preparing for life at the NDA, both young achievers have become role models for aspiring candidates across the country and symbols of Punjab’s growing contribution to the future leadership of the Armed Forces.
