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Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute

The Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute, also known as the Maharaja Ranjit Singh AFPI or the MRSAFPI,[1] is an institute that trains young boys from Punjab for permanent commission through the National Defence Academy into the armed forces.[2] The institute began training in April 2011,[3][4] and was established in Sector 77 Mohali by the Government of Punjab, India.[2] The institute is designed to train 96 boys at any one time. The training period is two years. There are two batches of 48 cadets at a time trained at the institute.[citation needed]

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute
AbbreviationMaharaja Ranjit Singh AFPI
FormationApril 2011; 13 years ago (2011-04)
PurposeTraining for service into the armed forces
Location
  • Punjab, India
Area served
Punjab, India
Websitehttps://afpipunjab.org

History

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The institute began training in April 2011[3][4][5] with an intake capacity[clarification needed] of 40 students.[6] The institute was originally created in 2011 on the orders of Parkash Singh Badal, who was disturbed by the ever-reducing number of Punjab youth inducted into training institutions and commissioned as officers.[1] (In the past, cadets from Punjab had made up a significant part of the academy strength, but this eventually diminished to about six or eight boys per course.[1]) Inspired by the success of the institute, the Punjab Government created the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute, named after Mai Bhago, in July 2015 to prepare girls to become commissioned officers.[5]

In June 2017, the first six cadets of the institute, from the first batch which had trained from 2011 to 2013, were commissioned as officers from the Indian Military Academy.[1]

In June 2019, institute alumni were recognized in the batch of officers who were then commissioned into the Indian Air Force.[7]

In December 2019, Amarinder Singh announced that the State Government[8][clarification needed] would bear the cost of educating poor students at the AFPI, who would only need to pay their own school fee.[6]

In 2019, 25 former cadets of the institute joined the National Defence Academy (India) or the Indian Military Academy; they also received "Achiever Awards" in a ceremony on 18 December 2019.[9] In March 2021, five cadets from the institute, who underwent training from 2018 to 2020 as part of the 8th AFPI course, were selected to join the National Defence Academy. As of then, 14 cadets of the 8th AFPI course had already joined the NDA the previous year, and 202 cadets from the AFPI had joined same service academy till Feb 2023.[10]

Entrance procedure

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The admissions process begins when the institute publishes advertisements inviting applications in newspapers in November.[11][better source needed] Applications are sent online by the first week of January.[11][better source needed] Entrance tests are held in January, and candidates who do well are called for interviews in January and February; following this is a medical examination.[11][better source needed] Finally, all selected candidates are required to attend the institute in April.[11][better source needed]

The institute conducts an entrance test in January every year. It includes grade 10 Math and English as syllabus. A merit list is prepared on the performance of written test and 150 names are short listed for the interview. After the test, a 1-day interview is conducted. The basic aim of the interview is to choose the best out of the good. There is no study required for the interview. In the interview general ability and mental level of the candidate is tested. The candidates who are selected in the interview have to go for their medical conducted by the institute. Basic aim of medical is to check for internal disabilities if any. After the medical a final merit list is prepared showing the names of 48 selected cadets.[citation needed][clarification needed]

Squadron

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After the admission to the institute, a cadet is given his squadron and number.[citation needed]

Training

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The four major aspects of training at AFPI are:

  1. Academics - all cadets study Plus 1 and Plus 2 in the non medical stream (Physics, Chemistry, Math, English and Physical Education / Computer Science). For this purpose AFPI has a contractual arrangement with Shemrocks a local school in Mohali.[citation needed]
  2. Physical Fitness-Cadets do PT equivalent to 1st Term NDA standards (Basic Tests); 2nd Term standards (Higher tests); and 3rd Term standards (Excellence Tests). Drill is also taught at AFPI. All important games are played to include Hockey, Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Cross Country, Boxing, Lawn Tennis. Squash, Golf and Swimming. Shooting is also taught at an indoor shooting range. Equitation training is likely to be introduced shortly.[citation needed]
  3. Personality Development and OLQ-Leadership, Soft skills, Communication skills, art of study, Know the armed forces, War movies, Debates, Group discussions, presentations, visit to military units.[citation needed]
  4. Preparation for the NDA entrance test and SSB interviews[12].[citation needed]

Finances

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All training and administrative expenses are borne by the State Government of Punjab[verification needed]. The cadet only has to pay school fees for the school in which he is doing his academics.[6]

Results

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In March 2013, the first course passed out. Seven cadets have joined NDA /NAVAC. 5th course has completed training. Till now[needs update] 149 cadets have joined NDA / NAVAC and more than 248 cadets have joined diffrent defence Academies. It produced an average of 25 cadets each year.[citation needed] The director AFPI believes that the institution will be feeding more young boys from Punjab and help Punjab to become golden sword of India.[citation needed][weasel words]

Governance and faculty

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The Chief Minister of Punjab is the chairman of the institute's governing body.[2][clarification needed] The director of the institute is major general Baljit Singh Grewal, and the Psychologist of the institute is Gp Capt[clarification needed] Arun Kumar Srivastva.[13][better source needed] The institute's administrative staff are[13][clarification needed]:

  • Warden: Nb Sub Balwinder Singh
  • Accountant: Sub Maj Balkar Singh
  • Head clerk: Hav Dharmpal Singh
  • Library clerk: Mr. Amandeep Singh
  • Drill Instructor: Sub Swaran Singh
  • PTI: Hony Capt Rajinder Singh
  • PTI: Hav Gurmail Singh
  • Driver: Hav Kuldip Singh
  • Driver: Hav Parmjeet Singh

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Chhina, Man Aman Singh (11 June 2017). "First six cadets from preparatory institute set up by Badal govt in 2011 commissioned as Army officers". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Maharaja Ranjit Singh AFPI". afpipunjab.org. Archived from the original on 17 November 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b "annual plan 2011-12" (PDF). pbplanning.gov.in. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b "MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR | Maharaja Ranjit Singh AFPI". Maharaja Ranjit Singh AFPI. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b ANI (28 January 2016). "Strengthening the Sword Arm of the Nation". Business Standard India. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Good news! Free education for class 11, 12 students at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Institute in Punjab". India Today. 11 December 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  7. ^ Mohan, Vijay (16 June 2019). "Mohali institute passouts IAF top guns". Tribuneindia News Service. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Good news! Free education for class 11, 12 students at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Institute in Punjab". India Today. Press Trust of India. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute Adds Another Feather In The Cap". 5 Dariya News. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Five cadets from Mohali institute selected for NDA". Tribuneindia News Service. 9 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d "Admission Procedure | Maharaja Ranjit Singh AFPI". Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Instructions for SSB - Join Indian Navy | Government of India". www.joinindiannavy.gov.in. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Faculty | Maharaja Ranjit Singh AFPI". Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
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