Lifestyle

Here’s a graduation ceremony with berets, rifles and parades

The newcomer.
The newcomer.
Image: AP Photo/Dar Yasin
By
Shelly Walia
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It’s graduation season again—and a new batch of men and women is ready to join the Indian Army, one of the largest in the world.

For weeks and months, these men and women—irrespective of caste, class and religion—rough it out at India’s defence academies to prepare for a career that inspires respect and admiration like few others. Yet, India’s young people seem increasingly disillusioned with a career in the armed forces.

The Indian Army is currently short of some 9,642 officers and 24,356 other ranks, and the government has now been forced to take evasive measures to attract more recruits.

Quartz brings you a selection of the best graduation photos from different military bases in India.

Indian Army-soldiers
Newly graduated soldiers of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry participate in their commencement parade at a military base on the outskirts of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. One hundred and seventy nine recruits from the Jammu and Kashmir state were formally inducted into the Indian army on March 4 after they successfully completed their training.
Image: AP Photo/Dar Yasin
Indian Army-Soldiers
Newly graduated soldiers of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry take oath during their commencement parade at a military base on the outskirts of Srinagar, on March 4.
Image: AP Photo/Dar Yasin
Indian Army-soldiers
An Indian army recruit wearing his ceremonial uniform looks on as he marches during their passing out parade at a garrison in Rangreth on the outskirts of Srinagar, on March 4.
Image: Reuters/Danish Ismail
Indian Army-Soldiers
Newly graduated soldiers of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry salute during their commencement parade at a military base on the outskirts of Srinagar, on March 4.
Image: AP Photo/Dar Yasin
Indian Army-Soldiers
Newly graduated soldiers of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry take oath during their commencement parade at a military base on the outskirts of Srinagar, on March 4.
Image: AP Photo/Dar Yasin
Indian Army-soldiers
Indian army recruits wearing their ceremonial uniform perform a salute during their passing-out parade at a garrison in Rangreth on the outskirts of Srinagar, on March 27.
Image: Reuters/Danish Ismail
Indian soldiers-Army
Newly raised soldiers of the Indian Army’s Jammu Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment salute during their commencement parade at a military base on the outskirts of Srinagar, on March 27.
Image: AP Photo/Dar Yasin
India-Army-Graduation
Indian army soldiers arrange guns allotted to newly inducted army personnel before their parade in Bangalore, on March 25.
Image: AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi
Indian Army-soldiers
An Indian Army soldier takes a horse over a jump at a combined display with trainees from the Officers Training Academy in Chennai, on March 13.
Image: AP Photo/Arun Sankar K.
India-Army-Graduation
(From left) A Hindu, Muslim, Christian and a Sikh carry holy books of their respective religions before giving oaths to newly inducted army personnel during their parade in Bangalore, on March 25. A total of 292 recruits joined the ranks of the Indian army after 19 weeks of basic training followed by 23 weeks of military training.
Image: AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi
Indian Army-soldiers-parade
Newly inducted Indian army personnel participate in a parade in Bangalore, on March 25.
Image: AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi
Indian Army-soldiers
Indian army recruits march in their ceremonial uniform during their passing out parade at a garrison in Rangreth on the outskirts of Srinagar, on March 4.
Image: Reuters/Danish Ismail
Indian Army-soldiers-women
Women cadets celebrate after their graduation ceremony at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai, on March 14.
Image: AP Photo/Arun Sankar K.