Pune, May 31, 2005 (Express News Serive)

Cadets of the 108th course of National Defence Academy passed out on Tuesday. The spectacular Passing-Out-Parade at the Khetarpal Parade Ground by 275 graduating cadets in spotless white uniforms was watched by parents and a large number of civil and military dignitaries. The parade was reviewed by Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Vice-Admiral Raman Puri and NDA commandant Lt Gen A K Chopra.

Vice-admiral Puri presented the President’s Gold Medal to Cadet Bhawani Singh for standing first in the overall order of merit, the silver medal to Y Pramod, and the bronze to A S Mehta. Lima squadron was declared the overall champion and received the Chiefs of Staff banner.

Expressing his satisfaction with the parade, Puri exhorted the cadets to ‘‘keep up the good work’’, and reminded them that India had faced the threat of terrorism successfully not just because of superior technology but more importantly because of the courage of officers who had laid down their lives.

As the cadets marched out in the ‘Antim Kadam’, which symbolised their graduation from the institute, a low-level flypast by two Jaguar deep-penetration fighters drew everyone’s attention. Following them were three Su-30 fighter-bombers, whose pilots performed a salute for the cadets in a typical ‘cobra’ maneuver.

Outside the parade ground cadets celebrated their graduation with the traditional throwing of caps and roll-calling. ‘‘Winning the medal is a big challenge as NDA is the pride of the nation,’’ said an impatient Bhawani Singh as he ached to join his coursemates in the celebrations.

An aerobatic display by a six-member Surya Kiran team followed the culmination of the parade. The bright red Kiran aircraft performed a series of stunts, including the famed barrel roll.

The passing out parade this year differed as cadets did not carry arms but performed a cane drill instead. The number of cadets was also smaller — the first- to third-session cadets did not take part.

The parade marked the end of a week of term-end activities at NDA including PT and a tattoo display, NDA expo, and convocation