Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 14: Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, presided over the Combined Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad, on Saturday. The event marked the successful completion of pre-commissioning training for flight cadets from various branches of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Air Chief Marshal Singh reviewed the graduating officers and commended their commitment to service and discipline. The parade is a prestigious milestone in the journey of flight cadets, symbolizing their formal induction into the IAF.
In a separate recognition of exceptional achievement, the Air Chief also felicitated ten NCC cadets—five boys and five girls—who successfully summited Mount Everest on May 18, as part of the NCC’s third Everest Expedition. The expedition, flagged off by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on April 3, 2025, saw 100% summit success from the team, earning acclaim from experienced Sherpas and international climbers.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the IAF wrote,
“Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, met and felicitated NCC cadets who successfully summited Mt Everest… The success of this expedition represents courage, resilience, and the adventurous spirit of India’s youth.”
Adding another significant moment to India’s aerospace advancement, Air Chief Marshal Singh also interacted via video conference with Group Captain Shubahanshu Shukla, who is set to embark on the Axiom-4 space mission. Shukla will become India’s second astronaut to go to space since 1984.
The IAF posted,
“As Group Captain Shubahanshu Shukla prepares to embark on the Axiom-4 space mission tomorrow, the Chief of the Air Staff and all Air Warriors of IAF wish him and the entire crew… all the best for a safe and successful trip to the International Space Station.”
This confluence of milestones — commissioning new officers, scaling Everest, and launching into space — underscores the IAF’s commitment to excellence, adventure, and innovation.