Meet the IAF officer who attended the Republic Day flag hoisting with the President & more related news here

On the morning of January 26, 2026, when the national flag is hoisted at Kartavya Path, Flight Lieutenant Akshita Dhankar will be close to the President of India, helping to unfurl the tricolor. It is a moment few officers experience and, for Dhankar, it marks the fulfillment of a dream that began years ago in a small town in Haryana.

For aspiring candidates, especially young ones, this moment will be decisive. The flag-raising ceremony, now in its 77th year, represents the dream of many: to stand alongside the President of India during one of the nation’s most solemn moments of pride.

The display of the flag also reminds the country of a new beginning after Independence, when India became a constitutional democracy.

It was the time when the nation and its citizens were subject to a Constitution that became the supreme authority guiding how the country would be governed.

Dhankar’s achievement reflects how far that journey has come. More than 70 years after Independence, her presence at Kartavya Path is a symbol of the growing role of women in national life and the growing pride young women take in serving the country, as their participation in institutions such as the armed forces continues to increase.

THE DREAM THAT MADE THE FAMILY PROUD

Born in the village of Kasni, Dhankar grew up in a region where the armed forces are part of everyday conversation.

His father had once participated in a Republic Day parade and the stories he brought home left a deep impression on him. Watching the parade as a child, she began to imagine herself one day dressed in uniform, part of that carefully choreographed display of national pride.

That dream took shape during his college years at Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, University of Delhi. As a cadet in the National Cadet Corps, Dhankar found structure, discipline and purpose.

He rose to the rank of Cadet Sergeant Major, led his fellow cadets and learned to remain calm under pressure. Those years at the NCC became the foundation for what was to come.

Determined to join the Indian Air Force, she appeared for the Air Force Common Admission Test and was later recommended by the Air Force Selection Board in Mysore.

She was commissioned in June 2023 as a Flight Officer in the Administration branch, part of the Short Service Commission Ground Service Course (Women) 211. She currently serves as a flight lieutenant and handles responsibilities that keep Air Force units running smoothly, from personnel coordination to logistics planning.

His selection for the 77th Republic Day Parade is a recognition of that constant work.

On January 26, he will participate in one of the most important ceremonies in the country, since the parade shows the evolution of the armed forces. This year’s event will also feature female Agniveers in the Air Force band and operational displays reflecting recent joint military efforts.

The preparation has been demanding. Long rehearsals, early mornings and strict precision have defined the last few months. However, Dhankar says the effort seems small compared to the honor of representing the Air Force to the nation.

In Kasni, his achievement has sparked quiet pride. A small community event, where girls sang in her honor, captured the sense of possibility that her journey has created. For many, she now represents proof that service and opportunity can grow from the most ordinary beginnings.

Flight Lieutenant Akshita Dhankar’s story is not about sudden fame, but about constant commitment. From NCC drills to Kartavya Path, her journey reflects a changing Indian Air Force, where more women are stepping forward, not as symbols, but as professionals shaping the future of the service.

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