India, Oct. 11 -- Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh has become India's first woman fighter pilot to earn the coveted Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) badge after completing a gruelling six-month course at the Indian Air Force's Tambaram-based Flying Instructors' School in Tamil Nadu, a watershed in the air force's 93-year history, officials aware of the matter said on Friday.

Singh is among the 59 officers from the IAF, army, navy and pilots of friendly foreign countries who were conferred the QFI badge at the valedictory ceremony for the 159th course held at Air Force Station Tambaram on October 9, the IAF said on Friday. The ceremony took place a day after the IAF marked its 93rd anniversary.

The Pakistani establishment had launched a d...