08/09/2026
Meet Lt. Akshay Khatri from Jhajjar district, Haryana. A fourth-generation Indian Army officer.
It took him 9 attempts, 3 recommendations, and nearly 5 years to finally get commissioned into the Indian Army from Officers Training Academy, Chennai.
Out of those 9 attempts, he received 2 recommendations for the Indian Air Force from 1 AFSB Dehradun and 1 recommendation for the Indian Army from 22 SSB Bhopal.
But Akshay’s connection with the Army goes much deeper than his own journey.
His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all served in the Armoured Corps. His family’s legacy of serving in the Indian Army dates back to 1945, making Akshay the fourth generation of his family to don the uniform.
During his training at OTA Chennai, he served as the Junior Under Officer of his company.
Akshay also takes this opportunity to express his gratitude for all the motivation and books from DDE Publications that helped him stay motivated and confident throughout his preparation. Particularly credits the books and resources that helped him prepare for the CDS examination, especially Mathematics.
His journey is a reminder that success does not always come quickly. Sometimes, it takes years of rejection, repeated attempts, and the courage to keep going.
He hopes his story motivates other aspirants to keep believing in themselves, continue working towards their goals, and never stop dreaming.
Lt. Akshay Khatri’s journey proves that an unsuccessful attempt is not the end of the road. Sometimes, it is simply another step towards the dream.
Jai Hind.