Hyderabad: The Indian Army celebrated the graduation of Agniveers from the two key training centres — Secunderabad and Hyderabad — marking a significant milestone in the nation’s defence readiness. On Tuesday, 592 Agniveers completed their training at 1 EME Centre, while on Wednesday, over 2,600 Agniveers passed out from the Artillery Centre, Hyderabad — one of the largest batches ever absorbed into the Regiment of Artillery as gunners.
At 1 EME Centre, Brigadier Prashant Bajpai, Commandant, reviewed the Passing Out Parade and lauded the recruits for mastering rigorous military and technical skills during their 31-week training. The Agniveers are now equipped to serve as technical specialists in Armoured Fighting Vehicles, telecommunications, military vehicles and refrigeration systems. Top performers, such as A.V. Rustam Kumar Maurya (best in drill) and A.V. Abhishek Rawat (overall best agniveer), were felicitated during the ceremony. Proud parents and relatives of the Agniveers witnessed the event, underlining the emotional significance of this transformation.
Simultaneously, the Artillery Centre, Hyderabad, hosted an equally grand ceremony reviewed by Major General Punit Mehta, Sena Medal, General Officer Commanding, Jodhpur Sub Area, and Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery. This batch, described as one of the largest in regimental history, celebrated the successful training of over 2,600 Agniveers who will soon join their parent Artillery Regiments. The ceremony included a series of inspiring events such as an Agniveer combat spectacle at Makhan Singh Stadium, showcasing martial arts, Mallakhamb, torch displays and a military symphony.
Major General Mehta stressed the pivotal role of Agniveers in shaping the future of the Indian Army and the nation. He spoke about the discipline and camaraderie instilled during training, asserting that these qualities would serve them well both in uniform and beyond. In a solemn ceremony at the War Memorial, tributes were paid to the valour and sacrifice of the fallen heroes by laying a wreath.
