When Mehakpreet Kaur of Paprali village in Ropar secured All India Rank (AIR) 1 in the Air Force Academy merit list, she did not just top a competitive exam — she stood first in a national pool where vacancies for women in defence services remain extraordinarily scarce. That scarcity is not accidental. It is the product of decades of policy, a Supreme Court battle, and a still-evolving institutional reckoning. For lakhs of families across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh whose children dream of a uniform, this result is a signpost worth understanding in full.What is NDA — and why does it matterThe National Defence Academy (NDA), situated at Khadakwasla, Pune, is one of the most prestigious military training institutions in the world, training cadets for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. Entry through NDA is the earliest possible route into a career as a commissioned officer, open to candidates, right after Class 12. The NDA exam is conducted by UPSC twice a year, with candidates appearing for two papers: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT).The total marks for the NDA exam are 1,800 — 900 for the written exam and 900 for the SSB interview. Only candidates who clear the written exam are called for the SSB (Services Selection Board), a rigorous five-day process. The SSB tests mental agility, leadership qualities and decision-making abilities, and also includes a medical and physical fitness assessment.For Air Force aspirants like Mehakpreet, there is an additional hurdle: candidates aiming for the Air Force wing must clear an additional Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) test, which is conducted only once in a lifetime.The vacancy crisis for womenThis is where numbers tell a story of their own. UPSC announced 394 vacancies for NDA 2, 2026 across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Naval Academy wings. Of these, female vacancies across all branches are a fraction — reflecting the institutional architecture of a system that opened its doors to women only in 2021.In a landmark ruling in August 2021, the Supreme Court passed an interim order allowing women to appear for the NDA exam for the first time in the history of the institution, which was founded in 1954. The bench described the exclusion as a “mindset problem” and called the policy “gender discriminatory.” On September 8, 2021, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that a decision had been taken at the highest level of the armed forces and government to induct women into the NDA through permanent commission.Prior to this, women were barred from entry through the NDA examination, and inclusion was only allowed through the Officers Training Academy (OTA) — which granted only Short Service Commission, not permanent commission. (Student Law Journal)After the Supreme Court’s order, the Ministry of Defence revised vacancies to earmark seats for women: Army — 10 out of 208; Navy — 3 out of 42; Air Force Flying Branch — 2 out of 92. The numbers have grown incrementally since, but women still account for a tiny sliver of total intake — which is precisely why securing AIR 1 in the AFA merit list is, as Mai Bhago AFPI Director Major General Jasbir Singh Sandhu described it, “extraordinary.”What is Mai Bhago AFPI — and how does it workMai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) for Girls was set up by the Punjab Government as an exclusive all-girls training institute — a unique, first-of-its-kind initiative in the country for the girl child.The institute operates at two levels. Its existing graduate-entry wing prepares women for CDS/AFCAT-route commissions after graduation. The NDA Preparatory Wing — launched in 2023 — is specifically for girls who want to join the NDA route as commissioned officers, and is the first such initiative of its kind in the country exclusively for girls.To apply, girls must have passed their Class 10 examination and be residents of Punjab. Girls studying in Class XI can also apply, subject to age criteria. The state government bears the entire cost of training, including boarding and lodging.A dedicated Rs 2.46-crore hostel for the NDA Preparatory Wing — named after Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw — was also established, featuring a cyber lab, indoor shooting range and top-notch fitness facilities, providing an ideal environment for 40 girl cadets preparing for the NDA.The institute’s track record has been building steadily. Three alumnae of Mai Bhago AFPI were commissioned as Flying Officers in the Indian Air Force from the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad — their passing out parade reviewed by IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. Another alumna, Nisha, was commissioned as Sub Lieutenant in the Indian Navy after passing out from the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala in Kerala. Now, with the Class of 2023 — the NDA wing’s inaugural batch — producing an AIR 1 and an AIR 18, the institute’s approach has achieved a national validation.What happens after selection — the road from merit list to uniformFor a student and parent staring at a merit list number, here is the full journey ahead:Selected candidates join the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, Pune, or the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala, Kerala. They undergo three years of academic and military training. On completion, they are awarded a Bachelor’s degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Science, Arts or Computer Science. Following this, cadets move to specialised academies — Indian Military Academy, Dehradun for the Army; Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala, for the Navy; Air Force Academy, Hyderabad for the Air Force.Air Force cadets are given flying training for one and a half years. At the end of one year of training, they are given provisional commission in the rank of Flying Officer. After successful completion of a further six months of training, they are granted permanent commission. On commissioning, Army officers receive the rank of Lieutenant, Navy officers are commissioned as Sub Lieutenants, and Air Force officers as Flying Officers. During training, cadets receive a stipend of Rs 56,100 per month.What next — for Mehakpreet, for aspirants, for the programmeMehakpreet Kaur, as AIR 1 in the AFA merit list, will now proceed to the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad, for her flying and officer training. Komalpreet Kaur, AIR 18 for NDA entry, will report to Khadakwasla, Pune, for three years of tri-service training before moving to her specialised academy.For aspirants across Punjab, the practical upshot is clear: the NDA Preparatory Wing at Mai Bhago AFPI is currently training its third batch, and applications for the next intake are conducted through the institute’s online portal. Eligibility remains Class 10 pass or Class 11 studying, with Punjab domicile mandatory and the state government covering all costs.The bigger structural question — of expanding women’s vacancies in the NDA — remains a live policy conversation. What Mehakpreet and Komalpreet have demonstrated, however, is that when access and preparation are provided, daughters from farming families and army households in Punjab’s villages can compete with — and beat — the entire country.