A total 165 officers were formally inducted into the Indian Army on Saturday morning at a ceremonial function that included the Passing Out Parade and pipping ritual.

The inductees belong to two different categories. While 128 are direct recruits, who, after getting a year-long basic training at the Gaya OTA successfully completed a three-year-long course in military engineering at institutes located in Secunderabad, Mhow and Pune, 37 officers came from lower ranks to get inducted as Special Commissioned Officers. Nineteen of the 37 Special Commissioned officers were allotted to the Assam Rifles, the oldest paramilitary force of the country.

Lt General Batoo Tshering, chief operations officer, Royal Bhutan Army, was the reviewing officer of the parade. Tshering arrived at the venue in a horse-drawn carriage, escorted by mounted horse riders. He was received by chief host Lt General P.C. Thimmaya, GOC-in-C, Army Training Command.