Success Story: A passing-out parade was held on September 5, 2026, at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Gaya, Bihar. Following the parade, the nation gained 253 military officers. Among them, 218 officer cadets from the Short Service Commission (Technical Entry) Men-65 course and 35 from the SSC (Technical) Women-36 course joined the Indian Army. One of these officers is Aarushi Pandey from Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh.
Topper in Classes 10 and 12
The success story of Aarushi Pandey—a brilliant student and national-level sportsperson from Bhopal—is remarkable and was shared on social media by PRO Defence Prayagraj. Her journey shatters the stereotype that certain fields are reserved only for men. A young woman transitioning from a technical background to achieving a top leadership position—Battalion Cadet Adjutant—in the Indian Army inspires every girl to dream big and pursue those dreams. According to PRO Defence Prayagraj, Aarushi was the Head Girl during her school days. She secured 92% marks in Class 10 and 95.6% in Class 12. Subsequently, she completed her B.Tech in Computer Science, specializing in AI and Machine Learning, with a CGPA of 8.8.
National-Level Table Tennis Player
Alongside her academics, Aarushi excelled as a national-level player in swimming and table tennis, winning multiple gold and silver medals. Her journey from excelling in education and sports to becoming an Indian Army officer stands as a shining example of excellence, dedication, and patriotism.
Journey from NCC to Army Officer
Aarushi participated in an Army camp and was selected as one of the 100 elite female NCC cadets from across the country to undergo attachment training at OTA Chennai. Following this, she cracked the SSB interview in her very first attempt. During her training at OTA Gaya, she rose from the rank of Senior Under Officer to the prestigious position of Battalion Cadet Adjutant, driven by her outstanding leadership qualities.
