Air Marshal TS Randhawa Presides Over Ceremony as Institute Strengthens Its Legacy as Premier Feeder for Armed Forces
Chandigarh/ SAS Nagar (June 17): Celebrating the achievements of its distinguished alumni, the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI), on Wednesday, honoured the cadets recently commissioned into the Defence Forces and those who graduated from the National Defence Academy (NDA) with the prestigious Achiever Awards. Notably, nine cadets were commissioned into the Indian Armed Forces in May and June 2026, while five cadets had recently graduated from the NDA.
The award ceremony, held at the institute’s campus in Sector 77, was presided over by Air Marshal TS Randhawa, PVSM, VM (Retd), a former Commandant of the NDA and an earlier member of the Governing Body of MRSAFPI. A large number of distinguished ex-AFPIans were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Air Marshal Randhawa congratulated the alumni and said their MRSAFPI training would serve as a strong launch pad for their service careers. He praised the NDA graduates and wished them well for training at their service academies. He also credited AFPI faculty for the institute’s results.
Sharing the institute’s notable achievements, MRSAFPI Director, Major General Ajay H. Chauhan, VSM (Retd), informed that 324 cadets from the institute had joined NDA and other academies so far, with 196 commissioned as officers. Another 24 are awaiting their joining letters to join the NDA and other training academies.The institute has emerged as a primary feeder institute for the Armed Forces, he added.
The institute conducts a two-year residential programme in which selected cadets complete their Class 12 through an affiliated school while simultaneously undergoing training in physical fitness, leadership, personality development and preparation for the NDA entrance examination. About 4,000 students apply to the institute each year, of whom only 48 are finally admitted.
The Achiever Award ceremony not only honoured distinguished alumni but also served as an inspiration for the next generation of officers to strive for excellence and uphold the legacy of MRSAFPI, he added.
