Assistant Commandant Roshni Devi’s journey from a small town in Jammu and Kashmir to leading a passing-out parade at one of India’s premier Central Armed Police Forces training institutions is a powerful story of courage, perseverance and devotion to the nation.
Hailing from Gogore in Vijaypur, Samba district, Roshni Devi successfully completed the 39th Basic Course for Assistant Commandants at the National Industrial Security Academy in Hyderabad. She passed out from the academy on June 13, 2026, and was entrusted with the prestigious responsibility of serving as the Parade Second-in-Command during the Passing Out Parade.
The honour was not merely a ceremonial appointment. It represented the culmination of years of preparation, repeated setbacks, professional service and an unshakable childhood dream of wearing the uniform once worn by her father.
Carrying Forward the Legacy of a Martyr
Assistant Commandant Roshni Devi is the daughter of Shaheed Havaldar Vijay Kumar of the 2nd Battalion, The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. Her father made the supreme sacrifice on October 2, 1999, during active counter-insurgency operations in Manipur. His service and sacrifice became the defining source of inspiration in Roshni’s life.
From childhood, she dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps, wearing the uniform and serving the motherland. For her, joining a uniformed force was not simply a career ambition. It was a deeply personal commitment to carry forward her father’s proud legacy and honour the path of national service that he had laid down.
Although she grew up without her father’s physical presence, his example continued to guide her through every examination, rejection and difficult decision. She looked up to him each day, drawing strength from his courage and sense of duty.
The unwavering support of her mother and brother also remained central to her journey. Their encouragement helped her stay grounded and determined during the most challenging periods of her preparation.
Education and the Foundation of Leadership
Roshni Devi completed her schooling at Government Higher Secondary School, Vijaypur. She subsequently earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, before completing a Master of Arts in English Honours.
Her formative years were also shaped by the National Cadet Corps. As a committed NCC cadet, she earned the prestigious NCC ‘C’ Certificate and was selected to participate in the Republic Day Camp Parade in New Delhi.
Marching at the Republic Day Camp was an important milestone in her early journey. It strengthened her discipline, confidence and leadership abilities while bringing her closer to the military environment she had admired since childhood.
The experience also reinforced her desire to dedicate her life to the service of the country.
A Preparation Journey Filled with Narrow Misses
Roshni Devi began her dedicated preparation journey in 2018. What followed was not a straightforward path to success but a prolonged test of patience, resilience and self-belief.
She qualified for the Combined Defence Services Examination three times and the Air Force Common Admission Test twice. Her performance before the Services Selection Boards demonstrated her potential for leadership, as she secured five recommendations across Army and Air Force entries.
Her SSB journey included recommendations from 14 SSB Allahabad in 2019, 34 SSB Allahabad in 2020 and 22 SSB Bhopal in 2021. She was also recommended twice by 3 Air Force Selection Board, Gandhinagar, through AFCAT entries in 2020 and 2021.
Despite being recommended on five occasions—three times for the Army and twice for the Air Force—she could not find a place in the final merit lists.
For many aspirants, even one such setback can be emotionally exhausting. Roshni faced the disappointment repeatedly, yet she refused to allow the results to define her abilities or bring an end to her dream.
She also qualified for the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission civil services examination but missed the final merit list by a narrow margin of only 12 marks.
Each setback brought her close to success without allowing her to cross the final line. However, rather than viewing these experiences as failures, she treated them as stages of preparation that were refining her for a larger responsibility.
Serving While Continuing to Chase the Dream
Roshni Devi did not put her life on hold while preparing for another opportunity. She moved forward and joined the Jammu and Kashmir Police as a Sub-Inspector.
The appointment enabled her to begin serving in uniform, but she remained committed to her larger aspiration of becoming a commissioned officer in a Central Armed Police Force.
Balancing professional responsibilities with continued preparation demanded immense discipline. While serving in the police, she continued studying and working towards her goal.
Her persistence eventually produced the breakthrough for which she had worked for years.
Roshni cleared the UPSC Central Armed Police Forces Assistant Commandant Examination in 2023, securing All India Rank 147. She was allocated the Central Industrial Security Force and joined the organisation as an Assistant Commandant.
The achievement marked the fulfilment of a childhood dream and proved that delayed success can be even more meaningful when it is built upon years of struggle.
Rigorous Training at NISA Hyderabad
After joining the CISF, Roshni Devi underwent the 39th Basic Course for Assistant Commandants at the National Industrial Security Academy in Hyderabad. The rigorous course prepared the young officers for the diverse operational, administrative and leadership responsibilities associated with serving in the CISF.
Her performance and leadership abilities earned her the responsibility of serving as the Parade Second-in-Command during the Passing Out Parade held on June 13, 2026.
Standing before the assembled officers, instructors, dignitaries and families, Assistant Commandant Roshni Devi represented not only her graduating batch but also the countless aspirants who have faced repeated rejections while pursuing a dream of national service.
The moment carried profound personal significance. The daughter of a soldier who had sacrificed his life for the country was now herself an officer, ready to shoulder the responsibility of protecting the nation.
Recognition for Leadership and Excellence
Assistant Commandant Roshni Devi’s journey has been marked by several notable achievements and commendations.
In addition to being appointed Parade Second-in-Command for the Passing Out Parade of the 39th Assistant Commandants Batch, she received a prestigious commendation at the National Human Rights Commission CAPF National Debate Competition in New Delhi.
She also received a formal commendation for exceptional leadership and excellence while serving as the Parade Second-in-Command during the Independence Day Parade in 2025.
These achievements reflected her confidence, communication skills, discipline and ability to lead from the front.
Her earlier selection for the Republic Day Camp Parade as an NCC cadet and her later parade appointments as a trainee officer together illustrate the steady growth of a young woman who transformed her early ambitions into professional excellence.
A Story of Persistence Beyond Rejection
What makes Roshni Devi’s journey especially inspiring is not merely the final achievement but the number of times she had to rise after coming close to success.
She was recommended five times by Services Selection Boards but remained outside the final merit lists. She cleared multiple competitive examinations, missed the JKPSC civil services merit list by only 12 marks and continued preparing while working as a police Sub-Inspector.
At every stage, she had valid reasons to stop trying. Instead, she chose to continue. Her journey shows that a merit-out does not erase a recommendation, a narrow miss does not diminish a candidate’s potential and one unsuccessful examination does not determine the course of an entire life.
Every challenge strengthened her resolve and prepared her for the responsibility she eventually earned as a CISF Assistant Commandant.
An Inspiration for Young Women
Assistant Commandant Roshni Devi’s achievement carries a significant message for young women, particularly those belonging to smaller towns and regions where access to guidance and opportunities may be limited.
Her journey from Gogore in Vijaypur to the National Industrial Security Academy proves that background does not determine the limits of ambition.
Through education, NCC training, competitive examinations, police service and CAPF training, she steadily built the skills required to become an officer. She did not allow repeated setbacks to weaken her purpose, nor did she abandon her responsibilities while pursuing her dream.
Her story demonstrates that young women can lead contingents, serve in demanding uniformed organisations and uphold a family legacy of sacrifice and national service.
A Message for Defence Aspirants
Sharing a message for defence aspirants and young women striving to establish themselves, Assistant Commandant Roshni Devi said:
“True resilience is built when your purpose is greater than your setbacks. Rejections and narrow misses are not the end of the road—they are merely refinement processes. Hold steadfast to your vision of serving the nation, honour your roots, and let your dedication pave the way. No dream is too distant if you have the grit to persist and the courage to walk the path of duty.”
Her words reflect the reality of her own journey. She did not reach her goal by avoiding failure. She reached it by refusing to be defeated by failure.
From the daughter of a martyr inspired by her father’s uniform to an NCC cadet marching at the Republic Day Camp, from an aspirant facing repeated merit-outs to a police Sub-Inspector and finally a CISF Assistant Commandant, Roshni Devi’s life is an enduring example of perseverance.
As she begins her career as an officer of the Central Industrial Security Force, she carries with her the memory of Shaheed Havaldar Vijay Kumar, the sacrifices of her family and the lessons of a journey that tested her at every step.
Her father served the nation until his final breath. More than two decades later, his daughter has proudly taken forward that legacy—this time as Assistant Commandant Roshni Devi, an officer prepared to lead, protect and serve the country with honour.
