Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to participate in the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) of the 217 Course at the Air Force Academy (AFA) in Hyderabad’s Dundigal on Saturday. The event, known for its military precision, will mark the successful completion of pre-commissioning training for Flight Cadets from various branches of the Indian Air Force (IAF), as per the Ministry of Defence. Singh will serve as the Reviewing Officer (RO) for the parade.
This ceremony will see Singh awarding the ‘President’s Commission’ to the graduating trainees. It will also involve the presentation of ‘Wings’ and ‘Brevets’ to Flight Cadets of the IAF, officers, and trainees from the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and Socialist Republic of Vietnam, as stated by the Ministry. The event will also celebrate the commissioning of the first group of women cadets from the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, who completed their training on May 30, 2025, and have since joined AFA for specialized training.
During the parade, the Defence Minister will recognize the Flight Cadets who have excelled by awarding them the ‘President’s Plaque’ for their performance in Flying, Navigation stream, and Ground Duty branches. The ceremony will showcase military drills and aerial displays, commencing with demonstrations by the Akash Ganga skydiving team and the Air Warrior Drill Team (AWDT), followed by fly-pasts led by Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh.
The flypast will feature various trainer aircraft, including the Pilatus PC-7 MkII, Hawk, Kiran, and Chetak. Notable aerial displays will include performances by the SU-30 MKI, the Sarang helicopter display team, and the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT).
