Her father died in J&K 20 years ago and she now enlists in his uniform

Inayat Vats appointed Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Corps

New Delhi:

Lieutenant Inayat Vats was commissioned into the Indian Army on Saturday, 20 years after her father Major Navneet Vats was killed in combat in Jammu and Kashmir.

After training at the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, she was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Corps.

During the farewell procession, Ms Watts donned the olive green uniform once worn by her father, who died when she was three.

“Welcome, Lieutenant Inayat Watts, daughter of the Army,” the Indian Army said on

Her mother Shivani Vats can also be seen standing next to her in the photo.

“𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐨𝐟𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐚 𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫”#OTAChennai#PassingOutParade

Inayat was just three years old when her father, Major Navneet Vats, was killed during a counter-insurgency operation.

More than two decades later, she was appointed… pic.twitter.com/AiIBUpfc1J

— Indian Army Army Training Command (@artrac_ia) March 9, 2024

Major Navneet Vats hails from Chandigarh and serves with the 4th Battalion, 3rd Gurkha Rifles.

He was killed in November 2003 during a counter-insurgency operation in Srinagar.

For his bravery and supreme sacrifice, he was awarded the “Order of the Seine”, a gallantry award.

Inayat Vats graduated from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University.

She was pursuing her master’s degree in political science from Hindu College, Delhi University, before joining the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, in April 2023.