Status of Women in Indian Armed Forces - Defence

Ministry of Defence
Status of Women in Armed Forces

07 JAN 2019

The induction of women is based on the organisational requirement, fighting efficiency, combat effectiveness and functionality of the Army.  Presently women along-with men candidates are recruited in Indian Army as Officers through Short Service Commission (SSC) on all India merit basis.  Women Officers are inducted in Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Army Education Corps, Judge Advocate General Branch, Corps of Engineers, Corps of Signals, Intelligence Corps, Corps of Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, Army Aviation Corps and Corps of Army Air Defence.  Women are also included in Indian Army in Military Nursing Service and Medical Officers cadre.
The details of the percentage of women working for armed forces are as under:

Name of the Service	Percentage (%)
Army	03.80
Air Force	13.09
Navy	06.00
Medical Officers	21.63
Dental Officers	20.75
Nursing Officers	100.00

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Dr. Vikas Mahatme in Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

Women in Armed Forces

Ministry of Defence

Women in Armed Forces

 12 MAR 2018

The held strength of women officers vis a viz male officers in the Armed Forces is as given below:

	Women	Men
Indian Army:(excluding Medical, Dental & Nursing)	1561	41074
Indian Air Force:(excluding Medical & Dental branch)	1594	10781
Indian Navy:(including Medical & Dental officers).	644	10652

In consonance with the policy in vogue, women officers are not inducted in Arms of Indian Army which are involved in direct combat role. The first batch of three women fighter pilots has been commissioned into the IAF in 2016.

Women officers in the Indian Navy are employed in combat, combat support and support roles. In their capacity as Pilots and Observers onboard Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft, women are being employed in a combat role.

In Navy, the policy for setting up of Permanent Commission for women officers in Law & Education and Naval Constructors branch has been finalized. In case of Indian Air Force, Government had issued prospective policies for grant of permanent commission to women officers in certain branches, whereas in Indian Army, the policy for grant of permanent commission to women officers is yet to be finalized.

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Dr. Vikas Mahatme in Rajya Sabha today.

Source : PIB