Pune: The National Defence Academy (NDA) is in the process to induct female trainers to align physical training with the specific physiological requirements of women cadets, who continue to match their male counterparts in performance and endurance, said Commandant Vice Admiral Anil Jaggi on Wednesday.“Women cadets are excellent in physical activities and are doing exceptionally well alongside male cadets. However, their physiology is different and training must be modified accordingly. We have sought female physical trainers from the competent authorities,” Jaggi said.He highlighted the grit of the women cadets who demonstrated remarkable resilience in the demanding Josh Run — an overnight endurance exercise in the final term. “The event tests endurance, teamwork and willpower. They did exceedingly well,” he said.Jaggi said 92 women cadets from various military academies participated for the first time in the Sabhikhi Cup ’26, a prestigious inter-academy sports meet being hosted by the NDA between March 17 and 21. The event underscored the growing integration of women into the training ecosystem of the armed forces’ .He praised their competitive spirit after the high-energy volleyball match between NDA and Indian Naval Academy women cadets. “One must see the level of enthusiasm and determination. Their drive to win laurels for their academies reflects their commitment. It is a proud and historic moment for us,” he said.The NDA has steadily upgraded its infrastructure since the induction of women cadets and ensured integrated training alongside male cadets. Officials said there is no differentiation in standards or curriculum.“They are being trained at par with male cadets, and this is essential given the operational requirements of the armed forces. Women now serve across arms and services, and the training must be done accordingly,” Jaggi added.The first batch of women cadets, who passed out from the NDA in 2025, is going to be commissioned into the armed forces after completing advanced military training from their respective military academies over the next few months.Meanwhile, the annual sports event, Sabhikhi Cup ’26, has brought together 429 cadets — 331 men and 98 women — from India’s premier military training institutions. Participating teams are from the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala, Officers Training Academies (OTA) in Chennai and Gaya and NDA. The cadets are competing in various disciplines including cross-country, football, basketball, hockey, volleyball and squash, in a test of physical endurance, skill and competitive spirit.Box: NDA revamps curriculum to include tech-driven warfareThe NDA has initiated a revision of its academic curriculum to incorporate emerging domains like artificial intelligence, machine learning, drone technology and space and information warfare.The overhaul is being carried out by internal bodies, including the Inter-Services Study Group and the Academic Study Group — which periodically review course content.Jaggi said, “The changes are in response to the rapid evolution of warfare and increasing reliance on technology-driven systems. Early orientation to such subjects is essential.”The academy has also signed memorandum of understanding with several universities and institutes to facilitate academic opportunities for cadets who are medically boarded out during training, he added.
