Mohali, Punjab: The Punjab Government on Friday felicitated two cadets from the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI), Mohali, for their exceptional performance in national-level defence entrance examinations, including the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) and the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam.
The recognition ceremony was held to celebrate the achievements of Mehakpreet Kaur and Komalpreet Kaur, who secured top ranks among lakhs of aspirants across the country, bringing pride to Punjab and highlighting the success of the state’s defence training initiatives.
Mehakpreet Tops AFCAT All India Merit List
Mehakpreet Kaur achieved a remarkable feat by securing the first position in the all-India merit list of the AFCAT examination, one of the most competitive entry tests for the Indian Air Force.
She hails from Paprali village in Rupnagar district and is the daughter of Amarjit Singh, a farmer, and Rupinder Kaur, a homemaker. Her achievement has been widely praised as an example of dedication and disciplined preparation.
Komalpreet Secures NDA Rank 18
Komalpreet Kaur secured the 18th rank in the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance examination, earning her a place among the top-performing candidates in the country.
She is the daughter of Havildar Gurmeet Singh of the Indian Army and Baljit Kaur from Shahura village in Amritsar district. Her success is being seen as a continuation of her family’s legacy of service in the armed forces.
Government Felicitates Cadets and Families
The cadets were felicitated by Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Aman Arora, along with Additional Chief Secretary Vikas Pratap.
Speaking at the event, Aman Arora praised the cadets for their exceptional achievements, stating that their success reflects strong determination, discipline, and commitment.
He highlighted that securing top ranks in highly competitive national defence exams requires exceptional mental strength and perseverance.
Punjab’s Defence Training Ecosystem
The Minister noted that since 2022, a total of 377 cadets from the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for boys and the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for girls have been commissioned as officers in the Indian Armed Forces.
Punjab is currently the only state in India that operates a dedicated government-run defence preparatory institute for girls, making it a unique model for women’s participation in the armed forces.
The Mai Bhago AFPI was established to prepare young women for entry into the armed forces after graduation. Following the opening of NDA entry for women after Class 12, an NDA Preparatory Wing for girls was introduced in 2023.
Expansion of Defence Preparatory Institutes
The state government also announced plans to expand its defence education infrastructure.
A third institute, the Sardar Bahadur Amin Chand Soni Armed Forces Preparatory Institute in Bajwara near Hoshiarpur, is set to be inaugurated soon.
Additionally, the foundation stone for the Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji Armed Forces Preparatory Institute at Cheema Mandi in Sangrur will be laid shortly, with completion expected within 18 months.
These initiatives aim to further strengthen Punjab’s pipeline of candidates for the Indian Armed Forces.
Leadership and Institutional Praise
Mai Bhago AFPI Director, Major General Jasbir Singh Sandhu (Retd), praised the cadets for their extraordinary achievements, noting that securing top positions in AFCAT and NDA examinations is a significant accomplishment given the limited vacancies for women in the armed forces.
He added that Mehakpreet and Komalpreet’s success will further motivate aspiring candidates and strengthen the state’s mission of increasing representation of Punjab’s daughters in the defence services.
Conclusion
The achievements of Mehakpreet Kaur and Komalpreet Kaur highlight the growing success of Punjab’s defence preparatory institutions. Their performance in national-level examinations underscores the effectiveness of structured training and the state’s continued commitment to empowering youth, especially women, for careers in the armed forces.
