Meet Flying Officer Ishita Sangwan: 1st Woman Fighter Pilot Commissioned Through the NDA

On 13 June 2026, at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad, history was made. Flying Officer Ishita Sangwan, a determined young officer from Haryana, received her Permanent Commission and became the first woman in India to be commissioned as a fighter pilot through the National Defence Academy (NDA) entry route.

Her achievement, alongside a fellow pioneer from the same batch, represents a watershed moment — five years after the Supreme Court’s landmark 2021 judgment opened the gates of NDA to women. While earlier women fighter pilots had entered service through the Short Service Commission (SSC) route, Ishita’s commissioning via NDA marks the arrival of women in the fighter stream through the traditional permanent commission pathway that has shaped generations of India’s finest military leaders.

Early Life and Formative Years

Ishita Sangwan was born into a family with deep roots in Chhapar village, Charkhi Dadri district, Haryana. Although the family later moved for professional reasons, her connection to her ancestral village remained strong. She spent much of her childhood and schooling in Rajasthan — completing her education up to Class VIII in Churu and finishing her senior secondary at Rana International School, Degana, in Nagaur district.

Academically gifted, Ishita consistently ranked among the top students in her class. She scored 90% in Class X and an impressive 90.60% in Class XII with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Initially, she was preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) while also considering civil services. A state-level basketball player, she balanced rigorous academics with sports and outdoor activities. Those who knew her described a young woman full of energy — someone who loved challenges, climbed trees, and possessed an innate drive to push her limits.

Her family played a quiet yet profound role in shaping her values. Her father, Charan Singh Sangwan, a school principal, and her mother, Anita Sangwan, a Hindi teacher, provided unwavering support. She has a twin sister, Aastha Sangwan, who is pursuing MBBS, and a brother, Aryan Sangwan, studying B.Tech in Pune. The family has no military background — a fact that makes Ishita’s journey even more remarkable.

A Promise and a Historic Opportunity

A deeply personal promise shaped Ishita’s destiny. As a child, she had told her grandmother, Lichhma Devi, that she would one day become a senior officer. Her grandmother passed away nearly twelve years ago, but her blessings, the family believes, accompanied Ishita throughout her journey.

The turning point came in 2021 while Ishita was in Class XII. The Supreme Court delivered its historic verdict allowing women to join the NDA. Her father called to share the news. For Ishita, the decision was instantaneous. She wanted to seize the opportunity and be among the first. With only limited time before the NDA written examination, she prepared alongside her board exams and cleared the highly competitive test.

She subsequently cleared the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) — essential for Air Force flying aspirants — and the requisite medical examinations. In August 2022, she joined the NDA at Khadakwasla, Pune, as part of the first-ever batch of women cadets.

Life at the National Defence Academy

The NDA experience tested Ishita’s physical endurance, mental resilience, and adaptability. Training ran from early morning until late evening, encompassing obstacle courses, route marches, swimming, horse riding, rope climbing, field tactics, weapon handling, and demanding exercises such as the Josh Camp (a 40 km navigation and endurance challenge) and Camp Rovers (a multi-day hill climb carrying weight with minimal sleep).

One particularly grueling moment during Camp Rovers saw the group exhausted after days of little rest. Ishita later recalled how her coursemate Srishti Singh began singing, lifting everyone’s spirits and helping them conquer the hill together. Such instances of camaraderie defined her time at the Academy.

With no prior exposure to military life, everything felt new. Yet Ishita and her fellow women cadets adapted quickly, often excelling in tasks alongside their male coursemates. She has spoken warmly of the guidance received from training officers and the bonds formed with her batchmates. On 29–31 May 2025, she passed out from NDA as part of the 148th course — one of 17 women in that historic first batch.

From NDA to the Fighter Cockpit

Following her NDA graduation, Ishita was selected for the Indian Air Force’s Flying Branch in the fighter stream — a highly competitive and prestigious allocation. She proceeded to the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, for advanced pilot training. There, she honed the skills required to operate high-performance fighter aircraft, fulfilling her long-held dream of flying jets such as the Rafale.

Throughout her training, she remained grounded. She often requested simple homemade comforts — gond laddoos, churma, and khoya peda — from her mother, a small but meaningful link to her family and roots. When she returned to her village after NDA training, the entire community gathered to celebrate, showering her with affection and sweets. Before departing for Hyderabad, she bowed in gratitude at the village temple.

13 June 2026: A Date Etched in History

At the Passing Out Parade on 13 June 2026 at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Ishita Sangwan was commissioned as a Flying Officer in the Indian Air Force. She became the first woman fighter pilot to enter the fighter stream through the NDA route.

This achievement carries profound significance. Previous women fighter pilots had blazed trails through the SSC entry. Ishita’s commissioning through NDA — the cradle of India’s officer corps — opens a new chapter, demonstrating that women can now pursue permanent commissions in combat aviation roles from the very beginning of their careers.

The Woman Behind the Wings

Those who know Ishita describe a focused, resilient, and humble individual. Her advice to young aspirants, particularly girls, is simple yet powerful: “Be focused, set a goal, work towards it with determination, and believe in yourself. Nothing is impossible.”

Her twin sister Aastha has spoken of Ishita as someone she has always looked up to — academically and athletically superior, someone who embraced challenges and dreamed extraordinarily. Her father has highlighted her determination to be among the first to seize the opportunity created by the Supreme Court verdict.

A New Chapter for Women in the Armed Forces

Ishita Sangwan’s journey reflects the progressive transformation of the Indian Armed Forces. Since the 2021 Supreme Court judgment, women have steadily entered NDA, IMA, INA, and AFA in increasing numbers. Her success in the fighter stream through the NDA pathway sends a clear message: merit and determination know no gender.

For defence aspirants preparing for NDA, CDS, AFCAT, or SSB interviews, her story offers powerful lessons in clarity of purpose, resilience under pressure, and the ability to adapt to unfamiliar environments. It reinforces that extraordinary achievements often begin with ordinary families who nurture big dreams.

As Flying Officer Ishita Sangwan takes her place among India’s elite fighter pilots, she carries not only her own aspirations but also the hopes of countless young women across the country who now see the sky not as a limit, but as a domain they too can command.