Strengthening Prime Minister Narendra Modi's motto of 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao', Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has recently passed a proposal to admit girl students in Sainik schools from the 2021-22 academic sessions. The admission will be done in a phased manner.

The decision came after the success of the Ministry of Defence's pilot project for admission of girl children in Sainik School Chhingchhip in Mizoram two years ago.

Astatement released by the Ministry said, "The decision is in line with theobjective of the government towards greater inclusiveness, gender equality,enabling greater participation of women in armed forces."

Thiscould be also the first step towards admitting the girl cadets into the NationalDefence Academy (NDA), which is a training ground for all three services.

It maybe mentioned here that Assam's prestigious Sainik School in Goalpara wasestablished in 1964.