Meet Lieutenant Sai Jadhav: IMA’s First Woman Officer Cadet Who Broke a 93-Year Tradition

In December 2025, a 23-year-old woman from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, etched her name into the annals of Indian military history. Lieutenant Sai Jadhav became the first woman officer cadet to successfully complete pre-commissioning training and pass out from the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun — an institution founded in 1932 that had, for 93 years, trained over 67,000 officers, all of them men.

Her commissioning as a Lieutenant in the Territorial Army not only shattered a long-standing gender barrier but also symbolised a decisive step forward in the Indian Army’s journey toward greater inclusivity. This is her story.

A Family Steeped in Service

Lieutenant Sai Jadhav hails from a proud fourth-generation military family. Her great-grandfather served in the British Indian Army, her grandfather was commissioned into the Indian Army, and her father, Major Sandeep Jadhav, continues the tradition as a serving Territorial Army officer. A maternal uncle also served in the Indian Air Force.

Growing up, Sai was surrounded by the ethos of duty and discipline. Her mother, Jyoti Jadhav, recalls that her daughter “has been attracted to uniforms since her childhood.” That early fascination, nurtured by her family’s legacy, would eventually guide her toward the armed forces.

Education Across the Nation

Sai’s formative years reflected the mobility of a military family. She began her schooling in Belgaum (Belagavi), Karnataka. When her father was posted to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with a Territorial Army battalion during her Class 5 year, Sai insisted the family relocate so she could continue her education alongside him. She completed her schooling on Great Nicobar Island.

Her academic journey later took her through graduation, after which she began pursuing an MBA through distance learning while preparing for competitive examinations. The discipline instilled during her peripatetic schooling served her well in the years that followed.

The Road to Selection

In December 2023, Sai appeared for the Territorial Army entrance examination. She performed exceptionally, securing top merit and clearing the rigorous Services Selection Board (SSB) interview with distinction. At the time, only one vacancy existed for a woman officer in the Territorial Army. Her performance earned her that coveted spot.

Following her selection, she received special permission to undergo pre-commissioning training at the IMA — a first for any woman officer cadet in the academy’s history.

Six Months That Changed History

On 4 July 2025, Lieutenant Sai Jadhav joined the Indian Military Academy for a demanding six-month Territorial Army special course. She was the sole woman among 16 officer cadets in her batch.

The training was physically and mentally gruelling, encompassing the same exacting standards applied to regular Army cadets. Sai later described the experience as transformative, one that honed her leadership abilities, endurance, confidence, and sense of responsibility. While she did not participate in the main Passing Out Parade march-past with the regular Army contingent, she successfully completed every prescribed military training module.

A Historic Commissioning

On 13 December 2025, Lieutenant Sai Jadhav was commissioned into the Indian Army. In a deeply emotional moment captured by national media, her parents — Major Sandeep Jadhav and Jyoti Jadhav — pinned the rank stars on her shoulders.

She was commissioned into the 130 Territorial Army (Ecological) Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment, stationed at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand. Her father later shared: “While pursuing her MBA, she was also preparing for competitive exams and the TA. She appeared for the exam in December 2023. There was only one vacancy for a woman officer in TA and since her rank was at the top in merit, she was selected. She is now commissioned into 130 Infantry Battalion (TA) of Kumaon Regiment at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand. As parents, we feel proud that our daughter followed her dream and chose to serve the nation.”

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed the achievement, stating: “She has created history by becoming the first woman officer cadet to pass out of IMA in 93 years… It is a matter of immense pride that this honour has gone to a Marathi Mulgi! This is not just an individual success story, but an inspiring milestone that gives direction to the dreams of countless young girls across the country.”

An Inspiration for a New Generation

Lieutenant Sai Jadhav’s accomplishment carries profound significance. It marks the first time a woman has trained and passed out from the IMA, opening the door for systematic gender integration. From June 2026 onward, women officer cadets will undergo regular training at the academy alongside their male counterparts and participate in the traditional Passing Out Parade.

Her journey stands as a powerful testament to determination, merit, and institutional progress. In messages shared through defence platforms, she has urged young girls across the country to consider the Armed Forces as a viable and honourable career path — one that offers professional growth, leadership development, and the highest privilege of serving the nation.

The Road Ahead

In June 2026, Lieutenant Sai Jadhav is scheduled to participate in the ceremonial parade at the iconic Chetwode Building at IMA — a symbolic honour reserved for graduates of the academy. It will complete a remarkable arc that began with a young girl’s fascination with uniforms and culminated in her breaking a 93-year tradition.

Lieutenant Sai Jadhav’s story is more than a personal triumph. It is a milestone that redefines possibilities for women in the Indian Armed Forces and inspires a generation of aspirants who dare to dream beyond conventional boundaries. As the Indian Army continues its evolution toward greater inclusivity, her name will forever be remembered as the one who took the first historic step through the gates of the Indian Military Academy.