Lieutenant Gaurav Yadav, originating from Alwar, Rajasthan, showcased exceptional dedication and skill at the Indian Military Academy’s (IMA) passing out parade in Dehradun on Saturday. He was honored with the prestigious Sword of Honour and the Gold Medal for being the ‘Officer Cadet Standing First in Order of Merit’.

A native of Jojor-Baas village, Lieutenant Yadav is the son of a modest farmer and the younger brother of Vineet Kumar, a Naik in the Indian Army. His brother’s advice and experience were crucial in shaping Lieutenant Yadav’s path, especially after his initial setbacks in securing admission to the National Defence Academy (NDA).

He not only overcame these hurdles to crack the NDA exam in his final attempt but also excelled by winning the President’s Gold Medal in the academy’s 143rd course last year.

Lieutenant Yadav’s dream to join the army has been a long-standing one, dating back to his childhood. “I was determined to don the olive green uniform since class 6 after seeing village boys train for the army recruitment test,” he told TOI. His commitment led him to make significant sacrifices, including forgoing a seat at IIT. He kept his IIT success a secret from his family, opting instead to join a college in Delhi University temporarily, until his eventual success at NDA.

The future looks promising for Lieutenant Yadav in the military. He is set to join the 1/11 unit of the Gorkha Rifles regiment, a unit known for its association with Captain Manoj Pandey, a hero of the Kargil war.

The IMA’s passing out parade was also a stage for other remarkable achievements. Sourabh Badhani was awarded the silver medal for securing the second position in the Order of Merit, and Alok Singh earned the bronze medal. In the Technical Graduate Course, Ajay Pant received the Silver Medal for topping the merit list. Additionally, Sailesh Bhatta from Nepal was awarded the Bangladesh Medal for being the top foreign cadet.