Ahmedabad: Aastha Laheru, who is studying B.Tech at Ahmedabad’s Nirma University, has become the first Gujarati girl to secure admission to the National Defense Academy. Aastha cleared the UPSC examination conducted for direct recruitment in various wings of the army for officer posts. She has been chosen for the esteemed National Defense Academy after successfully passing the complex selection process of the Army. Chief Minister Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel also personally met Aastha and commended her dedication to the army and the country.

Residing in the Maninagar area of Ahmedabad city, Aastha aspired to build her career in the Indian Army since childhood. Her determination grew stronger during her Class IX studies after watching a television program about the Navy. Consequently, she began preparing for NDA and the Short Service Commission. The central government’s decision to open doors for women’s recruitment in all three wings of the Indian Army further facilitated Aastha’s path to achieving her goal.

After clearing the preliminary examination of the National Defense Academy conducted by UPSC, Aastha successfully completed the challenging five-day examination. The NDA recruits 400 officers twice a year, with around seven lakh candidates appearing for the exam this time. Out of these, nine thousand candidates were called for the Service Selection Board.

The Service Selection Board’s five-day test involves a psychometric method and medical evaluation. It assesses leadership qualities, decision-making skills, and the sense of community among the candidates. Aastha excelled in this test held at Bhopal, and her experience as an NCC cadet contributed to her success.

Among the 400 seats, 10 are reserved for women in the Army, 6 in the Air Force, and 3 in the Navy. Aastha secured the 59th rank overall and was selected for the Army seat based on her preference. She is currently at the National Defense Academy, located in Khadakwasla, Pune, and will begin her training. Following three years of training there, she will undergo pre-commission training in Dehradun. Subsequently, she will be awarded a B.Sc degree from JNU through the Army. Such a degree and the opportunity to serve in the Army are only available to fortunate individuals.

Aastha’s father, Devenbhai Laheru, is a software engineer, and her mother, Kuntalben, is a homemaker. The noteworthy aspect is that Chief Minister Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel personally met Aastha and congratulated her on being the first Gujarati girl to be selected in the NDA. Her career journey serves as an inspiration to the youth of Gujarat. DeshGujarat