The combat employment philosophy of women in the Armed Forces is a continuously evolving process and is regularly reviewed by them.
At present, the women are being commissioned in the Indian Army into ten Arms & Services viz. Corps of Engineers, Corps of Signals, Army Air Defence, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Aviation Corps, Intelligence Corps, Judge Advocate General Branch, and Army Education Corps in addition to the Armed Forces Medical Services.
The IAF has commissioned 15 women fighter pilots to date and the women officers are now being inducted in all combat roles.
Indian Navy has already deputed 28 women officers on board ships. Women officers are also deployed in combat roles onboard naval Aircraft/ship-borne helicopters.
The percentage of women in the Armed Forces is as under:
| Army(as on 1st July, 2022) | Officers (Excluding AMC/ADC) | 3.97% |
| Officers (AMC/ADC) | 21.25 % | |
| MNS Officers | 100% | |
| JCO/OR | 0.01% | |
| Navy | Officers | About 6% |
| Air Force(as on 1st Dec, 2022) | Officers (excluding Medical & Dental Branch) | 13.69% |
- Officers
- JCO/OR
Following are the details of seats fixed for female candidates in Defence institutions like NDA, IMA and others, institution-wise;
No post is vacant for women in the Indian Army. Sanctioned posts in the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force are gender-neutral.
The government has taken a number of steps to increase women’s participation in the Defence sector. These include:
Army
Combat employment philosophy of women in the Armed Forces is a continuously evolving process and regularly reviewed by the Indian Army. At present, the women are being commissioned in Indian Army in ten Streams viz. Corps of Engineers, Corps of Signals, Army Air Defence, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Corp of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Aviation Corps, Intelligence Corps, Judge Advocate General Branch, and Army Education Corps in addition to the Armed Forces Medical Services as Doctors and Military Nurses which is a women-only entry. New Avenues such as the grant of permanent commission to SSC women officers, induction of women cadets in NDA, and recruitment of Women as Provost JCOs/OR.
Also Read: 10 Ways To Join Indian Army In 2023
Navy
The induction of women as officers in the Indian Navy commenced in the year 1991. Since then the Indian Navy has gradually opened all branches to women officers including induction through NDA. Further, for the first time, women are also being recruited for sailors’ entries under the Agnipath Scheme w.e.f. 2022 and 20% of vacancies are reserved for women.
Also Read: 10 Ways To Join Indian Navy In 2023
Air Force
Officers’ recruitment in the IAF is gender-neutral. Women officers are inducted in all the branches and streams of IAF. Opportunities for a career in IAF service 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. The experimental scheme to induct women officers in all combat roles, initiated by the IAF in 2015 has now been regularised into a permanent scheme. Such a gender-neutral approach is facilitating the employment of women officers of IAF in all combat roles without any restrictions.
Also Read: 4 Ways To Join Indian Air Force In 2023
No study has been undertaken regarding the low participation of women as there has been a steady growth in the induction of women into the armed forces.
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