Pune, Dec 18: Saee Jadhav from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, has made history by becoming the first woman Territorial Army officer to complete pre-commissioning training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, breaking the institution’s 93 year tradition of male only officer training.
Jadhav, 23, was commissioned as a Lieutenant during the Passing Out Parade of the 157th course held last week, marking a historic milestone for the IMA, established in 1932. She has joined the 130 Territorial Army (ecological) Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.
Her father, Sandip Jadhav, a serving Territorial Army major, said that Saee cleared the competitive TA exam in December 2023, securing the only vacancy for a woman officer due to her top merit ranking. While pursuing her MBA via distance learning, she prepared simultaneously for competitive exams and the Territorial Army.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulated Saee, calling her achievement an inspiring milestone for young girls across India. “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!” he wrote on X, praising her for continuing the Jadhav family legacy of service.
Saee’s commissioning marks not only a personal success but also a symbolic breakthrough for gender inclusivity in India’s armed forces, inspiring countless young women to pursue careers in defence services.