Permanent Commission of women officers in Indian Army to happen soon: Defence Ministry

According to a statement by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), “Besides the existing two streams, a permanent commission will be granted in Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Army Air Defence, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps and Intelligence also to women officers.”

Indian Army (Source: PTI)

New Delhi: In what comes as a good news for females who aspire to join the defence forces and don the olive greens, women officers will soon be allowed permanent commission in all ten branches of the Army. As of now, they were allowed the same only in Army Education Corps and Judge Advocate General (JAG). According to a statement by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), “Besides the existing two streams, a permanent commission will be granted in Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Army Air Defence, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps and Intelligence also to women officers.” In its statement, the MoD said it had “taken steps to ensure implementation of the announcement made by the Prime Minister on August 15, 2018, regarding grant of permanent commission to women officers in the armed forces.” The PM had said that women officers recruited under the short service commission in the armed forces will have the option of taking up a permanent commission, which he described as a “gift” to the “brave daughters”. In so far the Indian Air Force (IAF) is concerned, "all branches, including that of fighter pilots, are now open for women officers," it said. "In Indian Navy all non-sea going branches/cadre/specialisation have been opened for induction of women officers through Short Service Commission. In addition to education, law and naval constructor branch/cadre, women SSC officers have been made eligible for grant of permanent commission in the naval armament branch, at par with male officers," the statement said. The proposal for induction of "three new training ships" for the Navy is underway, the ministry also said in the statement. "This will provide the requisite infrastructure for training of both men and women officers. Indian Navy will start inducting women in all branches, once the training ships are in place," it said.