<span style="color: #222222;">In Maharashtra, 110 Medical cadets, including 21 female cadets, of the 55th batch of the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune (AFMC) were commissioned as Medical Officers into the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) today. The Passing Out Parade for commissioning AFMC Medical Cadets had to be called off for the first time since 1982 due to the prevailing COVID-19 restrictions.<br />''<br />''The Medical Cadets were commissioned by Commandant of AFMC Lt. Gen. Nardeep Naithani in a brief but impressive ceremony.   Ninety four Cadets were commissioned into the Army, 10 in the Indian Air Force, and six in the Indian Navy. The newly commissioned Medical Officers were administered oath of allegiance to the Constitution of India by Colonel A.K. Shakya of AFMC.<br />''<br />''In his commissioning address, Lt. Gen. Naithani congratulated the newly commissioned officers for joining the AFMS. He reminded the graduating batch that they were joining the medical profession at a time when the country was passing through a difficult phase. He exhorted them to put their knowledge and skills acquired at AFMC to provide the best possible care to their patients as they join the Nation's battle against the pandemic as COVID Warriors.<br />''<br />''Lt. Gen. Naithani also awarded trophies, medals and prizes to medical cadet's for outstanding achievements in academics and all-round performance. The President's Gold Medal for the best all-round performance as well as the Kalinga Trophy and the DGAFMS Gold Medal for best academic record during the MBBS course were awarded to Medical Cadet Vinita Reddy. Medical Cadet Suyash Singh received the Maj. Gen. NDP Karani Trophy for second best overall performance. Medical Cadet Nikita Dutta was awarded the Lt. Gen. Thapar Gold Medal for topping the Final MBBS examination.<br />''<br />''The preparatory period for commissioning of this graduating batch of AFMC was curtailed by two weeks. These two weeks were utilised to give intensive training to specifically prepare these young doctors to work in COVID care settings. The Medical Officers commissioned today would be leaving immediately to join as interns in 31 Armed Forces Medical Services Hospitals across the country, which are also designated for COVID care of Armed Forces personnel as well as civilians.</span><br />