Air Force officer Manisha Padhi appointed as India’s first woman Aide de Camp
Squadron Leader Padhi formally joined her post and reported to the Mizoram Governor on Wednesday, where she was introduced to the officers and staff of the Raj Bhavan at Aizawl
Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on Wednesday appointed Squadron Leader Manisha Padhi as Aide-De-Camp (ADC) from the armed forces at a brief ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan in Aizawl.
Squadron Leader Manisha Padhi appointed with Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati at Raj Bhawan in Aizawl on Wednesday (DIPR/Mizoram)
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Padhi, a 2015 batch Indian Air Force officer, is the first Indian woman to acquire the post.
“Her appointment is not just a milestone but a testament to the power of women breaking gender norms and excelling in different fields. Let’s celebrate this remarkable achievement and continue to champion women’s empowerment in every sphere,” Kambhampati stated after the appointment.
Squadron Leader Padhi formally joined her post and reported to the Governor on Wednesday, where she was introduced to the officers and staff of the Raj Bhavan at Aizawl.
Before her new posting, Padhi was posted at Air Force stations in Bidar, Pune and Bhatinda.
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.
