The North News
Chandigarh, November 21
The Punjab government has inaugurated a new residential and training facility for girls preparing to join the National Defence Academy (NDA), in what the state government describes as a major step towards strengthening women’s participation in the armed forces. Employment Generation and Skill Development Minister Aman Arora opened the dedicated accommodation block at the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) for Girls in SAS Nagar (Mohali) on Friday. The building has been named after Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who was born in Amritsar and is remembered as one of India’s most distinguished military leaders.
Arora said the ₹2.46 crore facility includes modern amenities such as a cyber lab, indoor shooting range and advanced fitness infrastructure, creating a focused residential environment for 40 girl cadets training for NDA entry. The centre, he added, aims to offer a holistic ecosystem for grooming future commissioned officers. The minister said the NDA Preparatory Wing, launched at the institute in July 2023 under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s government, has received strong interest from young women aspiring to join the armed forces.
At the event, Arora felicitated cadets who cleared the NDA written exam, including Sehjaldeep Kaur, who secured the highest marks in the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview across India — becoming the first girl to achieve this distinction.
Addressing the cadets, he said: “We are providing a launchpad for the dreams of our daughters to soar. This government is committed to breaking every barrier, and this wing shows our belief that the girls of Punjab are second to none.” Senior officials, including Principal Secretary Alaknanda Dayal and Major General Jasbir Singh Sandhu (Retd.), were present at the inauguration.
