Rs 2.46-crore hostel set up at Army preparatory institute

A dedicated accommodation block for the National Defence Academy (NDA) preparatory wing at the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) for Girls was inaugurated by Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Aman Arora.

The facility has been named in honour of the Sam Manekshaw, the first Field Marshal of the Indian Army. The Rs 2.46-crore state-of-the-art hostel is designed as a comprehensive residential and training facility with modern amenities, including a cyber lab, indoor shooting range and top-notch fitness facilities, providing an ideal environment for 40 girl cadets preparing for the NDA.

Arora said the state government had launched the NDA preparatory wing at the institute in July 2023.

The Minister felicitated cadets who cleared the NDA written exam and those recommended for commission, including cadet Sehjaldeep Kaur, who secured the highest marks in the SSB interview pan-India.

While addressing the cadets, Arora said, “We are providing a launchpad for the dreams of our daughters to soar high. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government is committed to shattering every glass ceiling. This wing is a testament to our belief that the girls of Punjab are second to none and are destined to lead from the front in the Armed Forces.”