Minister of State for Defence, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta gave away prizes to the various participants of the Republic Day parade this year in New Delhi. The Sikh Light Infantry among the three services and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police among para military forces were adjudged the best marching contingents.

The South-Central Cultural Zone that presented Baredi dance bagged the first prize in the schoolchildren items category. The second prize went to Kerala Society School, Vikaspuri that showed traditional performing arts of Kerala and the third prize went to Kamal Model School, Mohan Garden that presented a dance with the theme-Essence of Water.

The Ministry of Railways bagged the first prize in the tableaux category. Meghalaya bagged the second prize and Kerala, Nagaland and the Department of Justice shared the third prize.

An impressive passing-out parade, at the conclusion of Medical Officers' Basic Course 159 (MOBC-159), was held at Officers Training School (OTS) of Army Medical Corps (AMC) Centre and School in Lucknow Cantonment. Marked by military precision and customary elegance, the parade was commanded by Surg Cdr Saumit Roy. The parade saw the participation of 49, medical and dental officers including 11 lady officers.

Lt Gen SP Kalra, Commandant, AMC Centre and School, who took salute at the march-past, also distributed prizes to the officers who distinguished themselves. Lt Gen FN Billimoria Trophy for the best officer of the course was bagged by Capt SK Mishra. Flt Lt Mahender Singh was adjudged "the best marksman".

While addressing the parade,
Lt Gen Kalra urged the officers to excel in their respective fields. Highlighting the opportunities provided by the Armed Forces, Lt Gen Kalra advised the young officers to make the best use of themselves. He complimented them for their excellent turn-out at the parade.

A number of senior officers, ladies and parents witnessed the parade. The passed-out officers were imparted training in weapon handling and administration also.

The lamp lighting ceremony for the 38th batch of probationary nurses of the School of Nursing, Western Command Hospital was held at Chandimandir. Altogether, 14 nurses were initiated into the profession at this ceremony.

Maj Gen B Sadananda, Commandant of the Hospital, was the chief guest on the occasion. He gave away prizes to meritorious students. Col Usha Arora, Principal Matron, lighted the lamp while Lt Col Ratna Dey and Maj KS Suma passed the light to new entrants.

The lamp lighting ceremony marks the initiation of young students of nursing into the noble profession. This solemn ceremony began more than a century ago in the memory of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, popularly known as lady with the lamp.

Southern Command conducted a cycle expedition from Ahmed- nagar to Mumbai. The expedition was flagged off by Brig VK Verma, Commandant, Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre, Ahmednagar. The team, led by Lt Kapil Tyagi of 107 Air Defence Regiment consisted of one officer, one JCO and 28 other ranks from various units and formations of Maharashtra and Gujarat Area under Southern Command. The cyclists traversed a distance of 567 kms via Paithan, Aurangabad, Shirdi, Nasik and Thane. The participants visited some historical sites enroute.

The expedition was flagged in by Chief Minister of Maharashtra,
Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde and Maj Gen TK Kaul, GOC, Maharashtra and Gujarat Area.

Altogether 201 recruits were formally inducted as battle-ready soldiers in the Brigade of Guards, one of the highly-decorated and elite regiments of the Indian Army.

These young soldiers, after undergoing a tough training for approximately one year, participated in an impressive and colourful parade. The passing-out parade was reviewed by Col Herminder Singh, officiating Commandant, Guards Regimental Centre, Kamptee. Speaking on the occasion, he exhorted the young soldiers to live upto the motto of Pahla Hamesha Pahla and glorious traditions of the brigade.

Later, he presented the Field Marshal KM Cariappa Trophy to best Guardsman. He also presented medals for outstanding performance in firing and drill.

It was a proud moment for the kith and kin of the soldiers
and everybody present on the occasion as the new recruits took the final step out of their training centre.