IMA Passing Out Parade takes place under COVID-19 shadow; event streamed live

The Indian Military Academy (IMA) on Saturday morning held the Passing out Parade (PoP) for the 146 Regular Course and 129 Technical Graduate Course. This year, however, the parents of the cadets will unfortunately not be able to attend the ceremony due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) threat in the air. For the same reason, this is also set to be the first PoP that will be broadcast live across the country on the Indian Army's YouTube channel - ADGPI Indian Army - from 6 AM onwards.

The 28th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Mukund Naravane is the reviewing officer this year, who will see the 333 Indian and 90 Gentlemen Cadets from nine foreign countries becoming army officers.

#WATCH: Army chief General MM Naravane reviews the Passing Out Parade of 423 officers at Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. pic.twitter.com/H7b4Vjmud4

— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2020

Earlier, releasing a teaser for the parade, the Indian Army showed impressive visuals of the cadets lined up to graduate, ready to shoulder the nation's responsibility.

हाथ में ध्वजा रहे बाल दल सजा रहे
ध्वज कभी झुके नहीं दल कभी रुके नहीं
वीर तुम बढ़े चलो! धीर तुम बढ़े चलो!

Watch #IMA #Dehradun #PassingOutParade Live Coverage at 6 am on 13 June 2020 on #IndianArmy official YouTube channel (ADGPI-INDIAN ARMY).https://t.co/O5R2BAvYT7 pic.twitter.com/fPReOKde87

— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) June 11, 2020

Concerning the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the IMA had said that all precautionary measures to cut the virus spread have been taken for the June 13 event, and, this is the reason that for the first time, parents and relatives of the cadets have been advised to watch the live coverage of all POP events on media to feel part of the celebration and the pride associated with it.

This was one of the major reasons why the Indian Army decided to broadcast the parade live on social media.

The parents or relatives of cadets usually pip-in the ranks on the shoulders of cadets after the passing out parade. This year, the ranks would be put on by instructors or families residing within the academy premises.

The passing out parade symbolizes the culmination of rigorous training and transformation of a gentleman cadet into a young officer. This time a significant part of their training was conducted with new rules and precautions.

An emphasis was provided on increasing the immunity of these cadets. They were also given the occasional allowance to watch television for a while and to talk to the housekeepers on the phone to reduce their mental stress.

Due to the IMA's discipline and resolve, it is said that here has not been a single case of infection at the academy. This year there will also be eight groups of cadets instead of the usual 10, who will stand two metres apart instead of the normal half a metre distance.

Every six months, the IMA organises a passing out parade for its cadets who join different arms and services of the Indian Army while the foreign cadets go onto join the armies in their respective countries.