By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 10: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong on Friday held ‘Adyant’, the convocation ceremony for the Management Essentials 2025 programme, certifying more than 1,500 members of armed forces families trained under the MILVEST initiative.
The programme, conducted in collaboration with MILVEST (Military and Veterans Families Skilling and Transformation), concluded on Saturday with Lieutenant General Mohit Wadhwa, SM, General Officer Commanding, 101 Area, attending as chief guest. IIM Shillong Director Dr Naliniprava Tripathy and MILVEST Founder Captain (IN) Vinay Singh were also present.
In his address, Lt Gen Wadhwa said the strength of the programme lay in its inclusive structure, where officers, JCOs, other ranks and military spouses learned together, reflecting a shift towards skill-based capabilities rather than rank-based hierarchies. He described MILVEST as a national asset in supporting dignified career transitions for the military community.
The Management Essentials 2025 course comprised a 100-hour online certificate programme delivered through 67 sessions by IIM faculty. Certification required a minimum of 70 per cent attendance, completion of weekly assignments and participation in bi-monthly online vivas. The curriculum also included modules on facility management, digital designing, LinkedIn optimisation and résumé building.
Data shared at the event showed that between 2024 and 2025, over 2,000 armed forces family members enrolled in the programme, with more than 1,500 successfully certified. The certified cohort includes approximately 800 officers, 600 personnel from other ranks, 500 military spouses and over 100 wards of defence personnel.
The convocation also highlighted Project Deepak, a joint initiative of MILVEST and Sambhav-Kadam Foundation, aimed at delivering structured, future-ready professional skills to armed forces families with limited access to formal career-transition platforms.
Captain Vinay Singh said the initiative remained a charitable, purpose-driven effort, supported by the Indian Army’s 101 Area Headquarters and IIM Shillong, to enable sustainable post-service career pathways for the military community.
