The first war after independence was by Pakistan. On 22 Oct 1947, Pakistan placed a gun on the shoulders of the tribesmen, and Kashmir was attacked. IMA alumni Major Somnath Sharma set an unprecedented example of courage in the history of The Indian Army. He was awarded the highest medal of gallantry and India's first Param Vir Chakra.

        The year 1948 heralded a new era in the glorious history of the Academy. HE C Rajgopalachari, the first Indian Governor General of free India visited the Academy on  09 Oct 1948.

       Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister, reviewed the Passing Out Parade of the first University Graduates Course on 09 Dec 1948.

     The events of World War II demonstrated that a decisive military victory is entirely dependent upon the inter dependence and coordinated efforts of the three services. Taking note of it, the Government of India approved the creation of an Inter Services Wing at Dehradun for training cadets for the Army, Navy and Air Force under one roof for two years. Today is a special day for the Indian Military Academy. By a special order, Indian Military Academy has been renamed as Armed Forces Academy on 31December 1948.Thereafter, the cadets were to proceed to respective pre commission training establishments of the three Services for further training and commissioning. Thus, in Jan 1949, the Academy renamed as Armed Forces Academy with the Military Wing remaining in the present campus at Prem Nagar and the Inter Services Wing established at Clement Town. The post of the IMA Commandant was upgraded from Brigadier to Major General. On 01 January 1949, Brigadier Thakur Mahadeo Singh, DSO was promoted to the rank of Major General to assume the office as the Commandant of the Joint Services Wing at Dehradun. A new road known as General Mahadeo Singh (GMS) Road, named after the first Indian Commandant, was constructed to connect the two campuses.

     On 01 Jan 1950, the Armed Forces Academy was re-designated as National Defence Academy in keeping with India becoming a Republic. The first JSW Course passed out in Dec 1950. Maj Gen KS Thimayya, DSO took over the command of the National Defence Academy, Dehradun in 1950.

     1954 marked the beginning of a new era for the Indian Army. Finally, on 07 December 1954, the JSW moved out permanently to Khadakwasla, Pune and was renamed as the National Defence Academy on having been formally commissioned. On 10 Dec 1957, the Academy celebrated Silver Jubilee attended by a large number of veterans. With the move of the JSW to Khadakwasla, the Military Wing in Dehradun was re-designated as Military College on  31 Dec 1957.

     On 26 January 1958, the Military College sent a contingent consisting of 58Gentleman Cadets who had the proud distinction of marching at the head of the column from Vijay Chowk to the Red Fort, Delhi during the Republic Day parade.

     On 01 October 1959, after almost a decade, a new chapter got added to the history as the founding name of Military College was brought back and called the Indian Military Academy.

Batch of Silver Jublee Year