Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka has scripted a remarkable chapter in the history of women’s participation in the Indian Armed Forces. After emerging as the highest-ranked woman candidate in the first National Defence Academy entrance examination opened to women, she completed the demanding NDA-to-Indian Military Academy training route and was commissioned as an officer in the Indian Army on June 13, 2026.
The 23-year-old officer secured All India Rank 10 in the 2021 NDA examination and stood first among all women candidates. Her accomplishment was especially significant because the examination marked the beginning of women’s entry into the National Defence Academy following the Supreme Court’s intervention in 2021.
Four years after taking that historic examination, Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka marched out of the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun wearing the stars of an Army officer. Her journey represents personal determination, a proud military family legacy and the expanding opportunities available to young women seeking to serve the nation in uniform.
Commissioned from the Indian Military Academy
Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka was commissioned during the Passing Out Parade of the 158th Regular Course at the Indian Military Academy on June 13, 2026.
The parade was reviewed by President Droupadi Murmu and marked a historic occasion for the Indian Army. Nine women officers from the first batch of female cadets trained at the National Defence Academy were commissioned through the IMA on that day.
These women had joined the NDA in August 2022 as members of the 148th Course. After completing three years of joint military training at NDA Khadakwasla, the Army cadets proceeded to the Indian Military Academy for the final stage of their pre-commission training.
Lieutenant Dhaka was therefore among the first women to complete the traditional NDA-to-IMA route that has trained generations of Indian Army officers.
Her commissioning was not simply the conclusion of four demanding years of training. It was also the fulfilment of a journey that began when a judicial decision created an opportunity that had previously been unavailable to women.
The Historic NDA Examination
The NDA and Naval Academy Examination held on November 14, 2021, was the first in which women were permitted to compete for entry into the National Defence Academy.
The response from women candidates across India was overwhelming. Of the approximately 5.75 lakh applicants for the examination, more than 1.77 lakh were women.
Shanan Dhaka appeared for the examination in her first attempt and secured the highest position among female candidates. She obtained All India Rank 10 in the combined merit list, establishing herself as the first woman topper of the newly opened NDA entry.
Her performance demonstrated that women were prepared to compete successfully for admission to one of India’s most prestigious and challenging military institutions.
For Shanan, however, the achievement began as an almost unexpected decision. She had initially planned to prepare for the Civil Services Examination and had enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts programme at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi.
When the opportunity to appear for the NDA examination became available, she decided to test herself. What began as a spontaneous decision ultimately changed the direction of her life.
Focused Preparation for the NDA
Despite not having prepared for the NDA examination for an extended period, Shanan followed a highly disciplined study routine.
She reportedly studied for around five hours every day for approximately 40 days. She concentrated on understanding the examination pattern and solving previous years’ question papers.
Her preparation reflected an important lesson for defence aspirants: effective planning, consistency and familiarity with the examination format can be more valuable than studying without direction for long periods.
After clearing the written examination, she appeared before the Services Selection Board. The SSB process tested her intelligence, personality, leadership potential, psychological suitability and ability to perform as part of a group.
By successfully clearing every stage and securing the top position among women candidates, she proved that the historic opening of the NDA to women was being matched by capable and determined applicants.
A Family with Three Generations of Military Service
Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka comes from Sundana village in Haryana’s Rohtak district and belongs to a family deeply connected with the Armed Forces.
Her grandfather, Chanderbhan Dhaka, served in the Indian Army and retired as a Subedar. He established the family’s tradition of military service.
Her father, Vijay Kumar Dhaka, followed the same path and served in the Army Service Corps. He retired as a Naib Subedar before later joining the Panchkula Police as a Special Police Officer.
After completing his Army service, Vijay Kumar continued contributing to public service through his role with the police. He is associated with the Police Commissioner’s establishment in Panchkula.
Shanan’s elder sister, Captain Zonun Dhaka, serves in the Military Nursing Service. Her youngest sister is also growing up in an environment shaped by discipline, patriotism and service.
Lieutenant Dhaka’s commissioning has therefore taken the family’s military legacy into a new phase. While her grandfather and father served in the soldier and Junior Commissioned Officer ranks, she entered the Indian Army’s commissioned officer cadre through her own merit.
Growing Up in Cantonment Areas
Because of her father’s military postings, Shanan spent much of her childhood in cantonment environments.
She studied at Army Public Schools in places including Roorkee, Jaipur and Chandimandir. The atmosphere of military stations allowed her to observe the daily lives of soldiers, officers and their families from an early age.
Discipline, punctuality, physical fitness, responsibility and respect for the uniform were not merely ideas discussed at home. They were part of the environment in which she grew up.
Watching members of the Armed Forces serve in different parts of the country gradually shaped her understanding of military life. She came to see the Army not simply as an employer but as a national institution built around duty, teamwork and sacrifice.
Her family did not force her to choose a particular profession. Instead, her parents encouraged their daughters to pursue their ambitions and supported Shanan when she decided to leave her original Civil Services plan and attempt the NDA examination.
Academic Excellence Before the NDA
Shanan Dhaka was also known as a strong academic performer during her school years.
She attended Army Public Schools at different military stations and later joined Lady Shri Ram College for Women in Delhi. Her original ambition was to prepare for the Union Public Service Commission’s Civil Services Examination.
Her academic discipline gave her a strong foundation when the NDA opportunity emerged. Although the examination required preparation in subjects and areas different from her college studies, she was able to adapt quickly.
Her story highlights the importance of remaining open to new opportunities. A career direction chosen at one stage of life does not have to become permanent when a more meaningful path becomes available.
For Shanan, the Supreme Court’s decision opened a route that had not existed when she first began planning her future.
Rigorous Training at the National Defence Academy
Shanan joined the National Defence Academy in August 2022 as part of the 148th Course.
The entry of women required the academy to adapt to a historic institutional change while maintaining the demanding standards for which it is known. Women cadets underwent military, academic and physical training alongside their male counterparts.
Life at the NDA included early morning physical training, drill, classroom instruction, outdoor exercises, sports, camps, military subjects and leadership development.
Cadets were expected to function under pressure, manage limited time and place the interests of their team above personal comfort. The training was designed to develop endurance, courage, discipline and the ability to make decisions in difficult situations.
Being part of the first group also brought an additional responsibility. The performance of these cadets would influence how future generations viewed the induction of women into the academy.
Shanan and her coursemates had to meet the prescribed standards while adjusting to an environment undergoing an important transformation.
The first batch of 17 women cadets from the 148th NDA Course graduated from the academy on May 30, 2025. They subsequently moved to their respective service academies for specialised pre-commission training.
Final Training at the Indian Military Academy
After graduating from NDA, Shanan proceeded to the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun.
The IMA phase prepared her specifically for leadership as an Indian Army officer. Training at the academy included field exercises, weapon handling, tactics, physical conditioning, military administration, leadership tasks and instruction in the responsibilities of commanding troops.
The transition from NDA cadet to IMA officer cadet carried greater professional responsibility. At the end of the training period, she would be expected to lead soldiers and make decisions affecting operational effectiveness and human lives.
Lieutenant Dhaka has said that the training environment remained professional and based on common standards. Women cadets were expected to meet the requirements placed before officer cadets and were prepared to serve wherever the organisation needed them.
When she crossed the Antim Pag at the Indian Military Academy on June 13, 2026, she completed one of the most demanding officer-training journeys in the country.
First Posting in Arunachal Pradesh
Following her commissioning, Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka is preparing to begin her Army career with her first posting in Arunachal Pradesh.
The northeastern state includes strategically important and physically demanding terrain. Service in such regions requires officers to adapt to difficult weather, remote locations, operational responsibilities and the challenges of leading troops away from conventional urban facilities.
Lieutenant Dhaka has expressed her willingness to approach the assignment without preconceived expectations and to remain prepared for every challenge.
The posting represents the beginning of her professional military career. Her achievements in the entrance examination and training academies created history, but her responsibilities as an officer will now be measured through leadership, competence and service in the field.
Honoured by Panchkula Police
After her commissioning, Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka was felicitated at the Police Commissioner’s Office in Panchkula.
Police Commissioner Pankaj Nain honoured her and extended his best wishes for her Army career. Deputy Commissioner of Police Srishti Gupta also presented her with a certificate of appreciation.
The ceremony held special significance because her father serves as an SPO with the Panchkula Police. His daughter’s commissioning became a proud moment not only for the Dhaka family but also for the police establishment with which he is associated.
Lieutenant Dhaka was particularly pleased to see her father recognised during the ceremony. She has repeatedly credited her parents for allowing their daughters to dream freely and supporting them through every stage of their journeys.
An Inspiration for Young Women
Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka’s story holds particular importance for girls from villages, small towns and military families who aspire to join the Armed Forces.
Before 2021, women could enter the Armed Forces through several graduate-level officer entries, but the NDA route immediately after school was not available to them. The opening of the academy allowed women to receive military training at a younger age and compete for permanent commissions through the same foundational institution as their male counterparts.
Shanan became the first woman to lead the female merit list in that historic entrance examination. She then successfully completed every stage required to transform that selection into a commission.
Her journey shows that institutional reform creates meaningful change when it is combined with individual preparation and determination.
She has encouraged young women to believe that no profession should be considered beyond their reach. At the same time, she has emphasised that military service should be chosen because of genuine commitment rather than merely the attraction of rank, authority or uniform.
Carrying Forward a Proud Legacy
Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka entered the Indian Army with both a legacy and an identity of her own.
Her grandfather served as a Subedar. Her father served as a Naib Subedar before joining the police. Her elder sister became an officer in the Military Nursing Service. Shanan then created history by topping the first women’s NDA merit list and completing the NDA-IMA training route.
Her achievement connects three generations of service while also representing the changing face of the Indian Armed Forces.
From preparing for the Civil Services Examination at Lady Shri Ram College to standing on the parade ground of the Indian Military Academy, her path changed because she recognised an opportunity and had the courage to pursue it.
Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka’s journey is not only the story of a police SPO’s daughter becoming an Army officer. It is the story of a young woman who entered through a newly opened door, endured four years of demanding military training and emerged ready to lead soldiers in the service of the nation.
As she begins her first operational assignment, she carries the pride of her family, her village, Haryana and a generation of women who now see the National Defence Academy as a path that is equally theirs to pursue.
