At the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, 419 cadets were commissioned into the Indian Army during the 156th Passing Out Parade.

The parade was reviewed by Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lankan Army and an alumnus of the IMA, marking the first time a foreign army chief reviewed the ceremony.

Key Points:

• A total of 451 officer cadets passed out, including 419 for the Indian Army and 32 from friendly foreign countries.
• The Reviewing Officer, Lt Gen Rodrigo, an IMA alumnus from the 87th course, described the moment as an emotional homecoming.
• He emphasized leadership values such as honesty, courage, and duty to the nation, quoting Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
• Cadet Anni Nehra from Haryana received the Sword of Honour for best all-around performance, while Ronit Ranjan Nayak won the gold medal.
• The visit of the Sri Lankan Army Chief highlighted strong India–Sri Lanka defence ties, with ongoing military training exchanges between both nations.