In a landmark celebration of leadership, learning, and national service, National Academy of Defence Production (NADP) hosted the Convocation Ceremony for its inaugural PGDM (BM) batch 2023-25 at Utsav Hall, NADP, Nagpur. The event was graced by the Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra, C.P. Radhakrishnan, whose powerful and visionary address became the defining highlight of the ceremony.
Delivering a deeply inspiring speech, the Hon’ble Governor positioned the graduates as torchbearers of India’s strategic future, urging them to lead with purpose and patriotism. “India believes in you. The world is watching you. And history will be shaped by you.”
He emphasized the significance of the occasion, calling it: “A landmark moment, not just for the graduating students, but for our entire nation’s journey towards self-reliance and strategic preparedness in defence.”
The Governor underscored the urgency of indigenous innovation and self-sufficiency in defence production, stating: “We have to depend on our own people rather than on a foreign country… Defence corridors have been opened, and I am sure it is going to come to Maharashtra also.”
Reflecting on the bold reforms of the Modi Government, he remarked: “When the Modi government opened up the defence sector, many questioned the move. Today, we are one of the leading exporters of arms and ammunition — a testimony to the belief in our capability.”
He reiterated that India seeks power not to dominate, but to uplift, ensuring no external force dictates terms to the nation. The Governor lauded NADP’s commitment to nurturing future leaders in defence management, innovation, and national service.
The convocation celebrated the achievements of 16 students who completed the AICTE-approved PGDM (BM) program. Among them, Saurav Kumar received the Gold Medal, and Rohit Jadhav was awarded the Silver Medal for their outstanding academic and leadership performance.
The program, designed to produce strategic leaders for India’s defence and manufacturing ecosystem, has already achieved 100% internship and placement success. Graduates have secured roles in top organizations such as MKU, Lohia Aerospace, Quantum Ventures, L&T Defence, Tata Advanced Systems, KPMG, ITC, and Indian Bank, contributing across sectors from aerospace and engineering to HR and digital innovation.
Dr. J.P. Dash, Principal Director of NADP, in his graduation address described the program as a patriotic pursuit to build systems that serve and strengthen the nation and first of its kind in the country. He emphasized that NADP graduates are not just job-ready but mission-ready, equipped to lead with courage, think with clarity, and act with compassion,
Sanjay Hazari, CMD of Munitions India Limited, and N.P. Naik, Director/HR, MIL, expressed their pride in the graduates and reaffirmed MIL’s commitment to investing in the future through training and R&D to build India’s defence capabilities. The Board of Governors formally conferred diplomas to the graduating students, marking the beginning of their journey as leaders of India’s strategic transformation.
The ceremony was attended by several distinguished guests including Dr. Prashant Narnaware, I.A.S., Secretary to the Hon’ble Governor; Rajinder Singh and Vishal Agrawal from the Board of Governors; Air Marshal Vijay Kumar Garg, AVSM, VSM, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Maintenance Command, IAF; Prof. (Dr.) Prem Lal Patel, Director of VNIT, Brig. Abhijeet S Valimbe, Dr. Hari Om Gandhi, and corporate leaders such as Col Ramnath Swamy from Lloyds Metal, Dilip Mohanty from NECO, Vijaykumar Iyer and Rajeev Kalra from YIL, A.K. Yerpude from OF Ambajhari, Shishir Khare from YITM Ambajhari, Praveen Pandey from OF Chanda, and Satish G Sarda, CA. Also present were Dr. Vijay Phate, Head of the NHRD Chapter, and Dr. Surendra Gedam, Head of the ISTD Chapter.
The ceremony concluded with a powerful message from the Hon’ble Governor and NADP leadership: that the graduates must carry not just a diploma, but a mission—to serve the nation with integrity, innovation, and purpose.
