Power of Women in the Indian Armed Forces
In recent times, the Indian Armed Forces has seen a surge in the participation of women. In a major push to the women intake by the forces, the government has also taken significant steps to increase the percentage ratio of women officers and other ranks (ORs). Whether it’s women in combat roles or the medical services in Defence, it’s a significant push towards their empowerment.
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.
In a written reply to MPs Queen Oja and TR Baalu in Lok Sabha, MoS for Defence Ajay Bhatt shared information about the number of women serving in the Defence forces. He said, 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. The strength of women officers in the Indian Navy, as on March 09, 2023, is 748 including Medical and Dental officers.
All wings of the Indian Armed Forces have women in combat roles. Women are allowed in combat services and supervisory roles (as officers). In the Indian Army, the 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. It provides equal opportunities to women officers in the Arms/Services where they are commissioned.
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.
Apart from that Indian Army, Indian Air force and Indian Navy are taking various initiatives to encourage women to join the forces. Some major steps taken by Defence forces to provide equal opportunities to women are follows:
Women in Indian Army
The Indian Army is encouraging women to join the force by adopting enabling policies for their inclusion. The Indian Army has taken many initiatives for that; some recent major initiatives underway are:
– Grant of Permanent Commission (PC) to Women Serving Personnel
Permanent Commission is being granted to women officers (WOs) in 11 arms & services (in addition to Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps and Military Nursing Service) viz., Army Service Corps (ASC), Army Ordnance Corps (AOC), Army Education Corps (AEC), Judge Advocate General Branch (JAG Br), Corps of Engineers (ENGRS), Corps of Signals (SIGS), Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), Intelligence Corps (Int Corps), Army Air Defence (AAD), Army Aviation, Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC)
– Women in National Defence Academy (NDA)
The Armed Forces have opened entry for women candidates in NDA with 19 cadets, including 10 for the Indian Army, joining the academy every six months. The first batch of women cadets has started training in the NDA with effect from July 2022, and the second batch has commenced training with effect from January 2023.
-Women in Army Aviation
Since 2021, the Indian Army has also opened avenues for women officers to serve as pilots in the Corps of Army Aviation.
– Women Officers in Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC)
On March 1, 2023, the government approved women officers for the RVC, and four of the RVC’s twenty officers will be women.
– Colonel (Select Grade)
Women officers are also being considered for Colonel (select grade) ranks and are being given command appointments. Certain waivers have also been given to WOs to rule out any impediment in career progression of those who could not undergo mandatory career courses during the transition period.
Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs)/Other Ranks (OR)
Provision for enrolment of women as Other Ranks in Corps of Military Police in the Indian Army has been introduced in 2019. Under the scheme, 1700 women are targeted to be inducted in a phased manner (approximately 100 per year). The induction of women in the services has commenced from 2020. The first batch of 100 women in other ranks passed out in the first week of May 2021, after completion of 61 weeks of training. Another 100 women soldiers have been inducted through the Agnipath Scheme. 100 vacancies each have been catered for in Agnipath scheme for the recruiting years 2022–23 and 2023–24.
Women in Indian Air Force
In the Indian Air Force, women officers are empowered to hold key appointments including commanding officers in combat units of various field units. Women officers are inducted in all branches and streams of the 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.
Opportunities for a career in the IAF are widely publicized through print/electronic media and special publicity drives. 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 the induction/ career of Officer Cadre in the IAF. Women candidates are encouraged during such publicity drives to join the IAF as a preferred career option. Conduct of motivational talks by women officers gives female students an opportunity to interact with them and clear their apprehensions. The scope of choosing IAF as a career is covered in terms of prospects, facilities, work profile, benefits etc. during these sessions.
Women in Indian Navy
In the Indian Navy, the officers are given opportunities for spouse co-location, resettlement posting, and compassionate grounds posting in a gender-neutral manner. Women are granted Maternity Leave and Child Care Leave, etc. in addition to other leaves applicable to their male counterparts.
The Indian Navy 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. As on date, 59 women officers (excluding Medical and Dental officers) have been granted PC.
-Women Officers Onboard Ships
Women officers are being appointed onboard warships. Currently, 33 women officers are deployed on afloat billets.
-Naval Air Operations (NAO) Officers on Helicopters
Women NAO officers have been appointed as specialist NAO officers to ship borne helicopters.
-Overseas Assignments
Women NAO officers have been deputed overseas to Maldives, as part of Dornier aircrew for a period of one year w.e.f. September 2020 onwards. In addition, women officers are also deputed abroad for shorter durations as part of Mobile Training Teams and other foreign cooperation engagements.
-Entry of Women into NDA
Entry of women candidates into NDA has been permitted from 2022 wherein women officers are being inducted as PC officers. Three vacancies per batch have been allocated at NDA for women candidates of Navy and the first batch has joined in July 2022.
-Women in all Branches/Cadres/Specialisations
Entry of women in all Branches/ Cadres/ Specialisations (except Submarine specialization) is targeted to commence w.e.f. June 2023.
-Women as Agniveers
As part of the Agnipath Scheme, women have been enrolled as Agniveers commencing from the first batch itself. They are subjected to the same training curriculum, professional courses and retention criteria as compared to their male counterparts.
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