Hardeep Gill’s Perseverance: From Agnipath Setback to Army Lieutenant After 9 SSB Attempts
Hardeep Gill from Haryana, initially thwarted in his aspiration to join the Indian Air Force due to the Agnipath recruitment scheme, ultimately realized his dream of serving his country. Four years later, his determination was rewarded when he graduated as a Lieutenant from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun.
Lieutenant Hardeep Gill, a resident of Village Alipur near Uchana in Jind district, was once selected to be an IAF Airman, securing the 59th position in the national merit list among nearly 3,000 candidates. However, with the launch of the Agnipath scheme, his batch did not receive joining letters, dashing his hopes of joining the Air Force despite his merit-based selection.
Following a personal tragedy early in life, Hardeep was raised by his mother, Santro, after losing his father before he turned two. Santro, who worked as a mid-day meal worker earning approximately ₹800 per month, also managed a small agricultural land and sold milk from two buffaloes to make ends meet.
Despite financial constraints, Hardeep pursued his education—completing his studies up to Class 10 in a village school, then finishing Class 12, and eventually graduating from IGNOU while assisting his mother with farming duties.
Post the Air Force setback, Hardeep decided to attempt the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination, which he passed. However, the Services Selection Board (SSB) eluded him until his ninth try.
Major General Yash Mor (Retd), who provided online mentorship to Hardeep for SSB preparation, stated that Hardeep finally succeeded in 2024.
“He cleared SSB on his ninth attempt and joined IMA after attaining the 54th rank on the all-India merit list,” Maj Gen Mor mentioned.
In a podcast following his success, Hardeep shared his experiences with societal pressure and repeated setbacks.
“People in my village felt I was missing out on lower-level jobs because I was focused on becoming an officer. But I remained hopeful and continued to improve with each attempt,” he explained.
In a proud moment on Saturday, Hardeep Gill walked in the Passing Out Parade at IMA as his mother watched, marking his commissioning as a Lieutenant. He is set to join the 14th Battalion of the Sikh Light Infantry, embarking on his career in the Indian Army.
Lieutenant Hardeep Gill’s journey—from the disappointment with Agnipath and multiple SSB failures to eventual commissioning—serves as a compelling testament to resilience, determination, and self-belief, offering inspiration to numerous defence aspirants throughout the nation.
