No families, live telecast: In a first, IMA's passing out parade looked different

In a first for the country, 423 cadets of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) graduated on Saturday (June 13) in the absence of their parents due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

For the first time in the history of the Dehradun-based academy, the passing out parade of Gentleman Cadets (GCs) was broadcast on the official YouTube channel of the Army since the families of the cadets were not able to attend the ceremony due to the restrictions put in place by the Centre due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Of the total 423 GCs, 333 will now join the Indian Army as officers, starting at the rank of Lieutenant, while 90 are GCs from nine friendly foreign countries.

The passing out parade, which started at 6 AM, was held under the review of Chief of Army Staff, General MM Naravane, at the academy.

The traditionally grand and elaborate affair of cadets becoming real-life commanding officers in the Indian Army was toned down this year.

“This time, the piping will be done by instructors, officers and their wives,” Lt Col Amit Dagar, IMA’s public relations officer, told The Tribune.

To compensate the absence of their families, the Army made arrangements for a live telecast of the event on some TV channels and also on social media drawing similarities to that of the Republic Day Parade and the Army Day Parade.

The IMA PRO said that special accounts were opened on popular social media platforms for the telecast and were being widely circulated.