Lieutenant Pragati Thakur, a young officer of the Indian Army from Himachal Pradesh, has added another remarkable achievement to her growing list of accomplishments. After securing the prestigious OTA Gold Medal at Officers Training Academy, Chennai, she has now been awarded the Silver Gun for being adjudged the Best Artillery Young Officer at the School of Artillery.
Her journey from Kahdog village in Arki tehsil of Solan district to becoming one of the most promising young officers in the Regiment of Artillery is an inspiring story of discipline, dedication and professional excellence.
Lieutenant Pragati Thakur comes from a family with a strong connection to the armed forces. Her father, Honorary Captain Balak Ram, is a retired Indian Army veteran, while her mother, Meena Thakur, has been a constant source of support in her journey. Growing up in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, Pragati was shaped by values of hard work, simplicity and service to the nation.
She completed her schooling from Central School Jatog and later graduated from Sanjauli College in Shimla. A bright student from the beginning, she was also an active NCC cadet, which gave her early exposure to military life, discipline and leadership. Her NCC background played an important role in strengthening her dream of joining the Indian Army.
With a clear goal in mind, Pragati Thakur appeared for the Combined Defence Services Examination and successfully cleared the Services Selection Board interview. She then joined the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, for pre-commission training under the Short Service Commission entry.
At OTA Chennai, she quickly established herself as one of the finest cadets of her course. She was appointed Academy Under Officer, the senior-most appointment given to an officer cadet. The appointment is a recognition of leadership, discipline, responsibility and the ability to inspire fellow cadets.
Her performance at OTA was not limited to academics and military training alone. On 5 January 2025, while serving as Academy Under Officer, she secured second position in the 10 km women’s category at the Chennai Marathon 2025 with a timing of 45 minutes and 37 seconds. This reflected her physical fitness and competitive spirit.
The biggest moment of her OTA journey came during the Passing Out Parade held in March 2025. Lieutenant Pragati Thakur was awarded the OTA Gold Medal for standing first in the overall order of merit. The parade was reviewed by Lieutenant General Johnson P. Mathew, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.
The Passing Out Parade was also significant because it coincided with International Women’s Day. Two women officers received the top honours at the academy. Lieutenant Pragati Thakur won the Gold Medal, while Lieutenant Manya M Kumar from Kochi received the Sword of Honour and Silver Medal. The event highlighted the growing role and achievements of women officers in the Indian Army.
After being commissioned as a Lieutenant, Pragati Thakur was allocated to the Regiment of Artillery and posted to 332 Artillery Regiment. The Regiment of Artillery is one of the most important combat support arms of the Indian Army and requires officers to have strong technical knowledge, tactical understanding and leadership ability.
Following her commissioning, Lieutenant Pragati Thakur attended the Young Officers Course at the School of Artillery, Devlali. The 24-week course is designed to train young artillery officers in technical and tactical aspects of gun operations. It prepares them to function effectively as Gun Position Officers in support of military operations.
The course includes training in fire discipline, gun position duties, deployment of artillery resources, operational coordination and battlefield application of firepower. Officers from friendly foreign countries also attend the course, making it a professionally competitive and internationally exposed training programme.
The Young Officers Course culminated on 8 June 2026. Lieutenant General N.S. Sarna, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, Commandant, School of Artillery, felicitated the award winners on the occasion.
Lieutenant Pragati Thakur and Lieutenant M Muthu Raman were jointly adjudged First in Order of Merit. In addition to this, Lieutenant Pragati Thakur was awarded the Silver Gun for being the Best Artillery Young Officer. The award is a prestigious recognition of her professional competence, technical understanding and outstanding performance during the course.
For a young officer, winning both the OTA Gold Medal and the Silver Gun at the School of Artillery is a rare and impressive achievement. It reflects consistency, discipline and the ability to perform at the highest level in different phases of military training.
Her success has brought great pride to her family, village and the state of Himachal Pradesh. After her commissioning, she was warmly honoured in her hometown of Arki, where the local community celebrated her achievement with traditional cultural performances, including the Nati dance.
Lieutenant Pragati Thakur’s story is especially inspiring for young defence aspirants from small towns and villages. Her journey shows that background is never a limitation when combined with hard work, discipline and determination.
Her achievements also underline the growing excellence of women officers in the Indian Army. From securing top honours at OTA Chennai to proving her professional ability in artillery training, Lieutenant Pragati Thakur has demonstrated that women officers are making strong contributions across demanding military roles.
For defence aspirants, her journey offers important lessons. She showed leadership as Academy Under Officer, physical endurance through her performance in the Chennai Marathon, academic and military excellence by topping OTA, and professional mastery by winning the Silver Gun at the School of Artillery.
Lieutenant Pragati Thakur’s career in the Indian Army has only just begun, but her early achievements already make her a role model for thousands of young Indians. As she continues her service in the Regiment of Artillery, she stands as a symbol of dedication, humility and excellence.
From Kahdog village in Himachal Pradesh to the parade grounds of OTA Chennai and the training fields of the School of Artillery, Lieutenant Pragati Thakur’s journey is a proud reminder that determination, discipline and service remain the strongest foundations of success in uniform.
