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 June 13. This event, known for its military precision, celebrates the successful training completion of Flight Cadets from various branches of the Indian Air Force (IAF), as announced by the Ministry of Defence.
Singh will serve as the Reviewing Officer (RO) for the parade and will confer the ‘President’s Commission’ on the graduating trainees. The ceremony will include the awarding 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.
The CGP will also signify 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. Additionally, the Defence Minister will recognize the Flight Cadets excelling in Flying, Navigation stream, and Ground Duty branches by presenting the ‘President’s Plaque’ to the top performers in each category.
The ceremony will feature displays by the Akash Ganga and Air Warrior Drill Team (AWDT) to kick off the CGP. These displays will be complemented by fly-pasts led by Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, showcasing four trainer aircraft types: Pilatus PC-7 MkII, Hawk, Kiran, and Chetak. Noteworthy aerial demonstrations will include performances by the SU-30 MKI, the Sarang helicopter display team, and the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT).
