Chandigarh, June 6: Two female defense aspirants from the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute have achieved top national rankings, prompting a formal felicitation by the Punjab government on Friday.
Mehakpreet Kaur, the daughter of a local farmer, earned the first rank nationally in the Air Force Academy selection list. Her fellow cadet, Komalpreet Kaur, secured the 18th national position for entry into the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, marking a major advancement for women from the state entering the military.
Employment Generation Minister Aman Arora led the ceremony at Punjab Bhawan, praising the commitment required to clear these highly competitive national examinations.
“I must say this is a day of immense honour and joy for all of Punjab,” Arora asserted. “Our daughters Mehakpreet and Komalpreet have brought laurels to the state through their relentless hardwork.”
The minister noted that the achievements align with a broader trend, stating that 377 cadets from the state’s specialized preparatory academies have received commissions as officers over the last four years. He affirmed that the administration under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann expanded the Mai Bhago institute in 2023 by establishing a dedicated preparatory wing for female NDA candidates.
The defense training network is expanding across the state to accommodate more candidates. Arora announced that a new preparatory facility named after Sardar Bahadur Amin Chand Soni will be inaugurated in Hoshiarpur, while construction will begin soon on another institute in Sangrur.
Major General Jasbir Singh Sandhu, director of the Mai Bhago institute, stated that earning the top national spot against highly restricted vacancies is a remarkable feat. He noted that the success serves as an inspiration for other young women from rural and semi-urban backgrounds to pursue careers in the armed forces.
