Meet Lt Shanan Dhaka: Police SPO’s Daughter Who Created History at NDA

Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka’s story is one of quiet resolve meeting historic opportunity. The 23-year-old officer, who was commissioned into the Indian Army on June 13, 2026, is not only the first woman to secure the top rank in the NDA entrance examination but also a symbol of how the Supreme Court’s landmark 2021 judgment transformed possibilities for young women in India’s defence forces.

What makes her achievement particularly poignant is her family’s deep-rooted connection to military service — a legacy that began with her grandfather and continued through her father, who now serves as a Special Police Officer (SPO) with the Panchkula Police after retiring from the Army.

A Family Steeped in Service

Lieutenant Dhaka hails from Sundana village in Rohtak district, Haryana. Her grandfather, retired Subedar Chanderbhan Dhaka, was the first in the family to don the uniform, serving in the Indian Army. Her father, Vijay Kumar Dhaka, followed in his footsteps, retiring as a Naib Subedar from the Army Service Corps. Today, he continues to serve the nation in a different capacity as a Special Police Officer in Panchkula.

The family’s military ethos profoundly influenced Shanan. Growing up in cantonments across Roorkee, Jaipur, Chandimandir, and Chandigarh, she was immersed in the values of discipline, duty, and service from an early age. Her elder sister, Captain Zonun Dhaka, serves in the Military Nursing Service, while her younger sister is currently in Class IX. The household has always encouraged its daughters to dream without limitations.

“People often say daughters are no less than sons. My three daughters have proved that every single day,” her father, Vijay Dhaka, has said with evident pride. “As parents, we only encouraged them to dream fearlessly. Their achievements are entirely the result of their hard work.”

Academic Excellence and an Unexpected Path

Lieutenant Dhaka’s academic record is exemplary. She attended Army Public Schools in Roorkee, Jaipur, and Chandimandir, scoring 97.4% in Class 10 and an outstanding 98.2% in Class 12. After completing her schooling, she enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts programme at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi, with her sights initially set on the UPSC Civil Services Examination.

The turning point came in October 2021 when the Supreme Court delivered its historic judgment permitting women to join the National Defence Academy. While preparing for the UPSC, Shanan decided to appear for the NDA entrance examination “just to test myself.”

On November 14, 2021, she achieved what no woman had done before. Out of more than 5.75 lakh applicants — including 1.77 lakh women — she secured All India Rank 10 overall and emerged as the first woman to top the merit list. The result changed the trajectory of her life and opened a new chapter in the NDA’s history.

Joining the NDA and Forging a New Path

Lieutenant Dhaka joined the NDA in August 2022 as part of the 148th Course — one of the first batches of women cadets admitted following the Supreme Court verdict. The training was rigorous and transformative. Over three years at NDA Khadakwasla, she underwent intensive academics, physical training, military skills, drill, leadership development, and endurance exercises alongside her male counterparts.

She graduated from the NDA on May 30, 2025, before proceeding to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, for the final phase of pre-commission training. On June 13, 2026, during the Passing Out Parade of the 158th Regular Course at the IMA, she was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army. She was one of nine women from the pioneering NDA batch to be commissioned into the Army that day.

President Droupadi Murmu, who reviewed the parade, described the induction of these women officers as a “watershed moment” in the IMA’s history and a significant milestone in India’s journey towards women-led development.

Operational Posting and Commitment to Service

Following commissioning, Lieutenant Dhaka has been assigned to a unit in eastern Ladakh, where she will serve in high-altitude terrain under challenging operational conditions. This posting underscores the Indian Army’s commitment to deploying its officers — regardless of gender — to the most demanding operational theatres based on merit and requirement.

Her approach to success, as noted by those who have followed her journey, centres on thorough preparation, self-belief, and sustained hard work. Inspired by the simplicity, dedication, and grounded leadership of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, she advises aspiring candidates that joining the Armed Forces must stem from genuine commitment rather than the allure of rank or authority.

“Joining the Armed Forces should be driven by genuine commitment,” she has emphasised. “It requires passion, perseverance, and a readiness to work under challenging circumstances. Dream ambitiously while being prepared to invest the effort required to achieve those dreams.”

A Message of Inspiration

Recently honoured by Panchkula Deputy Commissioner of Police Srishti Gupta, Lieutenant Dhaka has consistently used her platform to encourage young women across the country. Her message remains clear and powerful: no profession is beyond reach if one believes in oneself and works with dedication.

Her commissioning represents more than personal success. It symbolises the shift of a military family from the junior commissioned officer (JCO) ranks — represented by her grandfather and father — to the officer cadre through her own merit and the opportunities created by progressive institutional change.

As Lieutenant Shanan Dhaka begins her service in one of the world’s most challenging and respected institutions, she carries forward a proud legacy while lighting the way for countless young women who now see the NDA not as an impossible dream, but as a tangible path to serve the nation in uniform.

Her story — that of a police SPO’s daughter who created history at the NDA — will continue to inspire generations of defence aspirants long after the parade ground salutes have faded.