Punjab Government celebrated a landmark day for women in defence services as Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Mr. Aman Arora, along with Additional Chief Secretary Mr. Vikas Pratap, on Friday, honoured two Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute cadets for remarkable achievements in Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) and National Defence Academy (NDA) merit lists.
Farmer’s daughter Mehakpreet Kaur topped the country to secure All India Rank (AIR) 1 in the Air Force Academy merit list, while Komalpreet Kaur sealed AIR-18 for entry into NDA, Khadakwasla, marking a major milestone for women in defence services.
Addressing the felicitation ceremony held here at Punjab Bhawan, Mr. Aman Arora hailed the indomitable spirit of Punjab’s daughters. “To be ranked first in AFCAT and 18th NDA exams among lakhs aspirants, takes fire in the belly. Our daughters have that fire,” he said.
He said that the success story doesn’t end here. Since 2022, 377 cadets from Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute and Mai Bhago Preparatory Institute have earned commission as officers in Indian armed forces. Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government took a path-breaking step in 2023 by starting an NDA Preparatory Wing for girls at Mai Bhago AFPI. He further highlighted that Punjab remains the only state in the country where the government runs dedicated defence preparatory institute for girls.
While congratulating both the lady cadets and their parents for this notable feat, Mr. Aman Arora stated, “I must say this is a day of immense honour and joy for all of Punjab. Our daughters Mehakpreet and Komalpreet have brought laurels to the state through their relentless hardwork.”
“Punjabis have always led from the front; first to win freedom, then to protect its sovereignty. The Punjab government-run Mai Bhago AFPI is taking that spirit to new heights. Our daughters have once again brought glory to Punjab. I congratulate both cadets, their families and every daughter of Punjab,” Mr. Aman Arora said.
The Cabinet Minister further said the another institute, the Sardar Bahadur Amin Chand Soni Armed Forces Preparatory Institute at Bajwara in Hoshiarpur, will be inaugurated soon to prepare youth for commission as officers in the Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, Mr Aman Arora said the foundation stone for the Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji Armed Forces Preparatory Institute at Cheema Mandi in Sangrur, will be laid soon. The institute is expected to be completed in 18 months. Work is also underway to renovate and modernise 14 CPYTE centres, with two new centres coming up in next few months.
Additional Chief Secretary of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Mr. Vikas Pratap said the results reflect the state’s focused approach in defence training for girls as well boys. Mehakpreet and Komalpreet have set a benchmark, while shattering glass ceiling for every daughter for Punjab from small towns and villages. The expansion of AFPIs and CPYTE centres will ensure more youth from Punjab get structured coaching, physical training and personality development to compete at the highest level, he added.
Expressing immense pride, Mai Bhago AFPI Director Maj Gen Jasbir Singh Sandhu, AVSM (Retd) said securing AIR-1 against the limited vacancies for women in the Defence Services is extraordinary. Mehakpreet and Komalpreet have given a massive boost to the state government’s mission of sending more daughters of Punjab into uniform.