Gaya, September 5, 2026: There is something different about a Passing Out Parade. For a few hours, a routine military drill ground becomes the place where months of hard work, discipline, and sacrifice finally come together.
That was the feeling at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Gaya, on Saturday, as 101 Officer Cadets of the Summer Term 2026 completed their training and took their final steps as cadets before beginning life as commissioned officers of the Indian Army.
For the cadets, it was a day of achievement. For their families, it was a moment of immense pride. For the Army, it marked the commissioning of a new generation of leaders.
A Parade With a Special Guest From Vietnam
Lieutenant General Le Van Huang, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, reviewed the Passing Out Parade.
His presence added a special dimension to the ceremony and reflected the growing defence relationship between India and Vietnam.
He arrived at the parade ground in a ceremonial buggy escorted by Lancers and reviewed the smartly turned-out contingents.
Also present was Lieutenant General Rajesh Pushkar, AVSM, VSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Command, who took the salute.
The presence of senior military leadership from both India and Vietnam made the occasion more than just a graduation ceremony. It also highlighted the importance of military cooperation and friendship between the two countries.
Remembering Those Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice
Before the cadets marched past, the ceremony took a moment to remember the soldiers whose courage continues to inspire generations of officers.
The names of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, and Captain Vikram Batra, PVC, were recalled during the parade. Both officers made the supreme sacrifice while serving the nation and remain enduring examples of courage and leadership.
The theme of sacrifice became even more personal with the unveiling of a ship model dedicated to Captain M.V. Pranjal Chandra, an alumnus of the academy who was killed while leading counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir in November 2023.
His parents were present to unveil the model.
It was a powerful reminder that behind the medals, uniforms and ceremonial traditions of the Army lies something much deeper: the willingness to put the nation before oneself.
101 Cadets Take Their Final March
The moment everyone had been waiting for soon arrived.
Led by Academy Under Officer P. Shashi Kumar, the cadets marched with precision to the beat of Kadam Taal.
The parade included eight marching companies:
- Grace
- Khalidhar
- Basanta
- Dogra
- Titar
- Rezang La
- Longewala
- Ajipir
Behind the cadets marched the bands of OTA Gaya and the Sikh Regimental Centre, adding to the atmosphere of the ceremony.
The skies above the academy also joined the celebration as aircraft carrying the National Flag, Indian Army Flag, and Academy Colours conducted a flypast.
In all, 65 male cadets from the Short Service Commission (Technical) course and 36 female cadets from the corresponding technical course stood ready to begin their commissioned careers.
After months of training, they were no longer simply Officer Cadets.
They were about to become Army officers.
P Shashi Kumar Takes the Top Honours
Every Passing Out Parade has its outstanding performers, and this term was no different.
Academy Under Officer P. Shashi Kumar emerged as the best all-round cadet of Summer Term 2026.
He received both the Sword of Honour and the Gold Medal for his overall performance during training. He will be commissioned into the 3 Gorkha Rifles.
The other top performers were:
|
Honour |
Officer Cadet |
Regiment |
|
Sword of Honour & Gold Medal |
AUO P. Shashi Kumar |
3 Gorkha Rifles |
|
Silver Medal |
BUO Deepak Singh Rawat |
Rajput Regiment |
|
Bronze Medal |
ACA Navnit Singh |
Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) |
The Silver Medal, awarded for second place in the overall order of merit, went to Battalion Under Officer Deepak Singh Rawat.
The Bronze Medal, for third place, was awarded to Academy Cadet Adjutant Navnit Singh, who will join the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces).
These awards represent much more than performance on a single day. They reflect months of consistency across academics, physical training, military skills, drill, and leadership.
Khalidhar Company Wins the COAS Banner
There was another major winner at the parade: Khalidhar Company.
Led by Senior Under Officer Harpunit Singh, the company received the coveted Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Banner.
The award recognises the company that performs best across a range of areas, including academics, weapon training, physical fitness, drill, and sports.
For the cadets of Khalidhar Company, the victory also comes with a visible mark of honour. Their lanyards will be worn on the right shoulder during Winter Term 2026, recognising their achievement.
It may look like a small detail to someone outside the academy, but for a military cadet, such traditions carry immense pride.
“Earn the Trust of Your Superiors and the Confidence of Your Subordinates”
Addressing the newly commissioned officers, Reviewing Officer Lieutenant General Le Van Huang spoke about the pride of the moment and congratulated the cadets and their families.
His message went beyond simply congratulating them on completing their training.
He reminded the young officers of the responsibility that comes with the uniform and encouraged them to become leaders who earn the trust of their seniors and the confidence of those they command.
He also described the cadets as informal ambassadors of the friendship between India and Vietnam.
His message was equally warm towards the families, recognising the support that made it possible for the cadets to complete ten demanding months of training.
While the cadets may be the ones on the parade ground, their families have their own story of sacrifice behind the scenes.
Then Came the Most Emotional Moment
The final march out of the academy is often the moment that stays with cadets long after the medals have been packed away.
As the newly commissioned officers marched to the familiar tune of Auld Lang Syne, the atmosphere changed.
The music brought back memories of the past ten months—the first day at the academy, friendships made along the way, difficult training sessions, successes, setbacks, and countless moments shared with coursemates.
Now, it was time to leave.
For the cadets, it was goodbye to the academy that had been their home.
For their parents, it was the moment they finally saw their sons and daughters walk out as officers.
And for the instructors and senior officers, it was another batch of young leaders ready to take on the responsibilities of military life.
The Antim Pag: The End of One Journey, the Start of Another
The most powerful symbol of the Passing Out Parade is the Antim Pag, the final step.
It marks the end of the cadets' training journey and their transition into commissioned service.
But in reality, it is not really an ending.
It is a beginning.
From here, these young officers will move to their respective units, take charge of soldiers, and face responsibilities that cannot be simulated on a training ground.
The decisions they make in the years ahead may affect the lives of the soldiers they command and, in difficult circumstances, the security of the nation itself.
That is the weight behind the uniform they now wear.
101 New Officers, 101 New Stories
As the ceremony came to an end, another flypast marked the closing moments of the parade.
For the 101 newly commissioned officers, the academy chapter was officially over.
But their real test was only beginning.
They now carry with them the lessons of OTA Gaya: discipline, teamwork, courage, leadership, and the ability to stand firm when things get difficult.
For their families, September 5 will remain a day of unforgettable pride
For the Indian Army, it marks the arrival of another group of young leaders.
And for the officers themselves, the message from the parade is perhaps the simplest one:
The training is over. The responsibility has just begun.
Their journey from cadets to officers is complete.
Now, it is their turn to write the next chapter of the Indian Army's story.
