WOMEN IN DEFENCE SERVICES
The total number of women serving in the Indian Army, category-wise is as under:
Sl No. | Category | Held Strength of Women |
(a) | Officers (including Army Medical Corps (AMC)/ Army Dental Corps (ADC) and Military Nursing Service (MNS) officers) | 6993 |
(b) | Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) | –
|
(c) | Other Ranks (OR) | 100 |
Total | 7,093 |
At present, women are serving in Officer’s cadre only in the Indian Air Force (IAF). The strength of women officers, as on March 01, 2023, in the IAF (excluding Medical and Dental branches) is 1,636.
WOMEN IN DEFENCE SERVICES: As on date, women are employed in the Indian Navy in the officer’s rank. The strength of women officers in the Indian Navy, as on March 09, 2023, is 748 including Medical and Dental officers.
Employment in Indian Armed Forces is gender neutral. There is no distinction in the deployment and working conditions of male and female soldiers in the arms and services in which they serve. The postings are as per organizational requirements and employment is as per qualifications and service qualitative requirements.
Indian Army: Consequent to grant of Permanent Commission to Women Officers (WOs), a gender neutral Career Progression policy covering employment and promotional aspects was promulgated on 23.11.2021, providing equal opportunities to women officers in the Arms/Services where they are commissioned. “WOMEN IN DEFENCE SERVICES”
Indian Air Force: Women officers are empowered to tenate key appointments including Commanding Officers in Combat Units of various field units. The rules in this regard are gender neutral and provide them equal opportunities. Their medical fitness and medical conditions are also factored prior to their effective utilization. “WOMEN IN DEFENCE SERVICES”
Indian Army
Officers: Indian Army is encouraging women to join the force by adopting enabling policies for their inclusion. Recent major initiatives underway are as under:
- Women in National Defence Academy (NDA). Armed Forces have opened entry for women candidates in NDA with 19 cadets including 10 for Indian Army joining the academy every six months. First batch of women cadets has started training in NDA with effect from July 2022 and second batch has commenced training with effect from January 2023. The organization is ensuring inclusive measures to carry out all necessary administrative, training and policy changes to enable the same.
- Women in Army Aviation. Indian Army has also opened avenues for Women Officers to serve as pilots in the Corps of Army Aviation since year 2021.
- Women Officers in Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC). The government has approved Women Officers in RVC on March 01, 2023 and four out of 20 officers into RVC in 2023 are women.
Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs)/Other Ranks (OR). The induction of women has commenced from 2020. The first batch of 100 women in Other Ranks passed out in first week of May 2021, after completion of 61 weeks of training.
Indian Air Force
- Gender neutral approach is facilitating the employment of women officers of Indian Air Force in all combat roles without any restrictions. They are flying fighter aircraft and operating from the length and breadth of the country in all branches of the IAF with pride.
- An opening has also been provided through NCC Special Entry for flying SSC (Women) from July 2017 onwards.
- ‘DISHA’ cell at Air HQ conducts various Induction Publicity programmes across the country related to induction/ career of Officer Cadre in the IAF.
- Conduct of motivational talks by women officers give opportunity to female students to interact with them and clear their apprehensions.
Indian Navy
Indian Navy (IN) ensures gender neutrality in almost all aspects. The steps taken by IN to give equal opportunities to women akin to their male counterparts and to accommodate more women into the Indian Navy are as follows:
- Permanent Commission to Women Officers: SSC women officers in the Indian Navy are eligible for consideration towards grant of Permanent Commission.
- RPA Stream: Women officers can join the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) stream and the first woman officer joined RPA squadron in March 2021.
WOMEN IN DEFENCE SERVICES
ABB/Savvy
(Release ID: 1908062) Visitor Counter : 6005
Read this release in: Urdu
