Dehradun. The 100-year-old Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) of Uttarakhand is now going to take a historic step. RIMC has made this historic announcement during its centenary celebrations that they will admit girl students for the first time. Admission for girls for the new session of 2022 will start in July.
RIMC Commandant Colonel Ajay Kumar made this announcement during the Centenary Foundation Day celebrations of the Rashtriya Indian Military College. More than 500 alumni participated in this function. After the government’s decision to open the doors of the National Defense Academy (NDA) for women, the RIMC has taken this decision in the same direction. In July 2022, 5 girl students will be admitted in RIMC.
Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh (Retd) said on this historic decision that ‘Five girl cadets will join the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) from July and I hope this will bring a big change. RIMC has prepared for this at all levels. Women will create history under the leadership of armed forces.’ While Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane praised and thanked RIMC and its alumni for serving the country for the last 100 years. General Naravane also expressed confidence in the preparedness of the RIMC for the admission of five women cadets and their complete mingling in this prestigious institution.
Significantly, the RIMC was established on March 13, 1922 by the then Prince of Wales as part of the ‘Indianisation’ program of the British Indian Army to educate and train Indian youth. The Prince of Wales later became King Edward VIII. Since then this prestigious institution has become a major source for recruitment of youth to the National Defense Academy and Naval Academy, Ezhimala.
A total of 568 girls have appeared for the entrance test for the five seats allotted to girls in RIMC. Before deciding to open its doors to girl students, RIMC constituted a committee to find out the necessary reforms in the institute for girl students. It is worth noting that students of class VIII and above are given admission in RIMC. The college is considered to be an apex training institute for those aspiring to join the Indian Army.
