A woman once dreamt of winning an Olympic medal for India, another grew up wanting to become a police officer, while a third arrived at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) without any sporting background, only to discover physical and mental strength she never knew she possessed. Different ambitions, different journeys, but a common destination: the Indian Police Service (IPS).

As the 78th batch of officer trainees prepares for its passing-out parade at the SVPNPA in Hyderabad on Saturday (October 17, 2026), the stories of its 37 women trainees reflect the determination to enter, and excel in, a profession long dominated by men.

Among them is Kuhoo Garg, daughter of former DGP of Uttarakhand Ashok Kumar, a former international badminton player who has won the IPS Association’s Sword of Honour for the best outdoor probationer. A native of Dehradun, Uttarakhand, she represented India between 2013 and 2020 and was formerly ranked world No. 34 and India No. 1 in mixed doubles.

A graduate in Economics Honours from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Ms. Kuhoo trained at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad, where her ambitions were firmly rooted in sport.

Her plans, however, changed following injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic. Encouraged by her parents, particularly her father, whose work in public service inspired her, she turned towards the civil services and cleared the examination in her first attempt.

Finding strength beyond the field

“The academy equips us with everything required to deal with these challenges. The training builds resilience and confidence, which will help us perform our responsibilities in the field,” she said.

For N. Chetana Reddy, a Hyderabad native who was allotted the Telangana cadre, the transformation was of a different kind.

With both parents being doctors and no background in sports, she admitted that physical fitness had never been a major part of her life before joining the academy.

“The training is very scientific and systematic. Even if you are not from a sporting background, discipline and consistent effort can help you achieve the required level of physical fitness,” she said.

Ms. Chetana described the experience as transformative, particularly in developing mental resilience and confidence. She also encouraged more women to consider policing, pointing to the growing number of women IPS officers holding important positions in Telangana.

A childhood dream of youngest trainee

For Urmi Sinha, the youngest trainee in the batch, becoming an IPS officer was an ambition that began in childhood.

Born in 2003 and raised in Howrah, West Bengal, Ms. Urmi graduated in Political Science Honours from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, and was allotted the Andhra Pradesh cadre.

Her parents first suggested the civil services, believing her energy could be put to use in public service. While the responsibilities of the wider bureaucracy were difficult for her to understand as a child, the role of a police officer was easier to relate to.

The idea eventually became a personal ambition, and she cleared the civil services examination in her first attempt.

Another award-winning trainee, Aarushi Sharma, who received the Manipur Cup for Law, followed a different academic path. A Psychology graduate from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University, Ms. Aarushi hails from Punjab and was allotted the Assam cadre.

She said her academic background helped her appreciate how psychology could be applied in public service, motivating her to pursue the civil services. She too cleared the examination in her first attempt.

K. Arpitha, a native of Medak in Telangana who was allotted the Uttar Pradesh cadre, said every State presented different crime patterns and policing challenges, but the academy’s training had equipped probationers to respond to them.

Recognition across disciplines

Among the other award winners, Lekzin Pelden Lhamo received the BSF Trophy for proficiency in outdoor subjects and the Director’s Trophy for Best Foreign Officer Trainee in Phase-I.

B. Sivachandran, who was allotted the Tamil Nadu cadre, won the National Forensic Science University Trophy for Police Sciences and the National Crime Records Bureau Trophy for Computer Studies.

Gourav Uppal received the Director’s Trophy for Best Officer Trainee in Phase-I, while Rishabh Bhatt won the Tonk Cup for Equitation.

Mr. Rishabh, who cleared the civil services examination on his third attempt after completing his B.Tech., said the academy had introduced him to criminal investigation, forensics, cybercrime and the new criminal laws, alongside riding, firing and swimming.

Cleared civil services exam in fourth attempt

Chowhan Rajkumar, a native of Adilabad in Telangana who was allotted the Rajasthan cadre, recalled the relief of clearing the civil services examination in his fourth attempt.

A mechanical engineering graduate from NIT Warangal, Mr. Rajkumar credited his schooling at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya and his father, a government teacher, with inspiring him to pursue public service.

Learning to tackle emerging crimes

For the women trainees, the academy’s curriculum has extended beyond conventional policing to emerging challenges, particularly technology-driven crime. Ms. Chetana said the training included understanding artificial intelligence, identifying deepfakes and examining how AI-generated material could be used to commit offences.

At the same time, she highlighted its usefulness in investigations, particularly in analysing CCTV footage and improving efficiency from the registration of an FIR to the filing of a charge sheet.

“AI is definitely an emerging threat, but it is also an opportunity for police officers. It can be used to improve the efficiency of investigations,” she said.

With their first phase of training drawing to a close, the women officers will now move towards the next stage of their professional journey in their allotted cadres.