Explainer: Another armed forces preparatory academy for Punjab
The new Hoshiarpur AFPI is offering short capsule courses even as the state govt plans to expand the infrastructure for grooming youngsters with an academy in Cheema
PRESENTING Punjab’s Budget for the 2026-27 fiscal on March 8, the state’s Finance Minister, Harpal Singh Cheema, announced that the newly established Sardar Bahadur Amin Chand Soni Armed Forces Preparatory Institute at Hoshiarpur is nearing completion and will commence training in 2026-27.
This will be the third such institute in the state aimed at preparing youth, including girls, to join the Armed Forces as commissioned officers, in an effort to stem the declining trend in recruitment that Punjab has been facing since the 1990s.
In his budget speech, Cheema also announced the establishment of the Sant Attar Singh Maharaj Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Boys at Cheema near Sangrur, which happens to be the finance minister’s home district. It will come up alongside a degree college to offer a combined educational and training experience.
Envisioned by the then Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, the first institute — Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI) — became functional in 2011. It was followed by the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls (MBAFPI) in 2015. Both are located in Mohali.
The MRSAFPI’s mandate is to train boys for entry into the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, while the MBAFPI prepares girls to join the Armed Forces, both through the NDA as well as after completing their graduation.
Different training model
Unlike these two institutes, which undertake fully residential programmes aligned with the duration of academic courses at the 10+2 and graduate levels, the new institute at Hoshiarpur will conduct short capsule courses and will be co-educational.
“At the Sardar Bahadur Amin Chand Soni Institute, we envisage running three-four month courses to prepare candidates for the written examination as well as the Service Selection Board interviews,” says Maj Gen JS Sandhu (retd), Director of MBAFPI, who is also in charge of the Hoshiarpur institute. Accommodation will be available for outstation cadets while day-boarding will also be permitted for those residing nearby.
The MRSAFPI conducts a two-year residential programme in which selected cadets complete their 10+2 through an affiliated school while simultaneously undergoing training in physical fitness, leadership, personality development, and preparation for the NDA entrance examination.
About 4,000 students apply to the institute each year, of whom 48 are finally admitted. “Since inception, 187 alumni of our institute have become commissioned officers, while several others are undergoing training in service academies or awaiting joining after clearing the selection process,” says Maj Gen Ajay Chauhan (retd), Director, MRSAFPI. On several occasions, the MRSAFPI alumni have also secured top positions in their course while passing out from various service academies.
MRSAFPI has also started training boys for the Technical Entry Scheme, where the Army selects candidates after 10+2 based on their JEE scores for a 4-year BTech course and a permanent commission.
Opening doors for women officers
When the MBAFPI was instituted, the intake of women in the defence forces was only for graduates. The institute conducted a three-year programme, with cadets pursuing their graduation from MCM DAV College for Women in Chandigarh.
Following directions of the Supreme Court in 2021, the NDA opened its doors to women. The MBAFPI set up a new wing for NDA aspirants about two years back, and two batches have since been admitted.
“The trend we are now witnessing is that of an increasing number of girls from rural and semi-urban areas applying for admission,” Maj Gen Sandhu adds.
The annual intake for the graduate wing is 25 students and for the NDA wing, it is 20 students. So far, 42 alumni of this institute have been commissioned into the defence forces while another seven aspirants are expected to join service academies in the next few weeks.
While the tuition fees for education in affiliated schools and colleges are borne by the students, the cost of board and lodging, training, sports, and extra-curricular activities is covered by the Punjab Government. Recently, the state also instituted scholarships for top academic performers.
