362 cadets pass out of NDA

The President's gold medallist of the 120th course of the National Defence Academy was none other than city boy Adjutant Nikhil Prabhune.u00a0Prabhune, a naval cadet in the NDA, proudly marched with 361 other cadets at the Passing-Out Parade (POP) in Khadakvasla today.


Combat ready: The Passing-Out Parade of the 362 cadets of the 120th
course of the NDA

"I have always been fascinated with wings and now aim to become a fighter pilot in the Indian Navy. Nikhil will now head towards Kochi for advanced training to become a naval combat aviator. Nikhil hails from Mavdi village in Pimpri and studied at the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) in Dehra Dun.


An air show by the 'Sarang' helicopter aerobatics team

The silver and bronze medals were awarded to Battalion Cadet Adjutant Shashank Singh and Divisional Cadet Captain Kishor Kunal respectively. Kunal is a product of the Aruliya Sainik School in West Bengal and is an Army cadet. The Passing-Out parade was attended by the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma, who was the chief guest, and General officer in Command of the Indian Army's Pune-based Southern Command Lt General AK Singh.


The successful cadets enjoy a light moment in front of the camera

Verma said the security in the country was uncertain and fluid with many unconventional challenges. "This is adding to the nuclear backdrop that military conflicts have nowadays. Twenty one foreign cadets also passed out from the academy.u00a0An impressive display of aerobatics were performed by the Sukhoi-30 fighter jets from the Indian Air Force and the 'Sarang' helicopter aerobatics team comprising the indigenously made Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) or Dhruv.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

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Admiral Nirmal Verma, Chief of Naval Staff, addresses the cadets
during the ceremony. Pics/Jignesh Mistry