Women in India's Defence Forces: Breaking Barriers, Building Legacy
“Our daughters are not just daughters of India—they are the pride of India.” — Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The role of women in India’s defence forces has evolved from restricted participation to increasing representation across combat and strategic domains. Today, women officers are not only guarding borders and flying fighter jets but also commanding units, launching warships, and leading change in a traditionally male-dominated institution.
This blog traces the history, policy reforms, key personalities, milestones, challenges, global comparisons, and future roadmap of women in Indian defence, offering a multidimensional view of their contributions and the road ahead.
🪖 Historical Overview
| Period | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1888 | Formation of Indian Military Nursing Service (British India) |
| 1943 | Formation of Rani Jhansi Regiment under INA (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose) |
| 1958 | Establishment of Army Medical Corps Women Officers |
| 1992 | First batch of women inducted as Short Service Commissioned Officers |
| 2008 | Permanent commission for women in select branches |
| 2020 | Supreme Court grants permanent commission and command roles to women officers in the Army |
| 2022 | Women admitted to NDA for the first time |
| 2023 | First batch of Women Agniveers inducted in Navy and Army |
👩✈️ Women in Different Wings of the Armed Forces
🪖 Indian Army
- Women inducted in officer roles in corps like Signals, Engineers, Ordnance, Intelligence, JAG, EME
- Permanent Commission granted in 10 branches, including Army Aviation
- First woman officer to command a combat support unit: Lt Col Ponung Doming (Engineers)
- Captain Shiva Chouhan: First woman officer posted to the Siachen Glacier
- Women now inducted as Military Police Jawans since 2021
- As of 2024: Over 1,700+ women officers, with growing strength in OTA Chennai and NCC
🛫 Indian Air Force (IAF)
- Women entered IAF in 1993 in non-technical branches
- First female fighter pilots: Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth, Mohana Singh (2016)
- First woman to command a frontline combat unit: Group Captain Shaliza Dhami (2023)
- Women now fly Rafale, Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, and Tejas fighter aircraft
- First woman airborne refueling pilot: Squadron Leader Suman Sharma
- IAF has over 1,600 women, including 150+ flying officers and ground staff
⚓ Indian Navy
- Women officers inducted in 1992
- Allowed in Education, Logistics, ATC, Observer, Naval Architect, JAG, Medical
- First woman pilot: Sub Lieutenant Shivangi (2019)
- Lt Commander Karabi Gogoi: First woman PRO of the Indian Navy
- 2023: Induction of women Agniveers and deployment aboard frontline warships
- Navy has proposed inclusion of women in submarine arm post-2025, subject to infrastructure upgrades
🧭 Key Achievements and Trailblazers
- Flight Lieutenant Avani Chaturvedi: First Indian woman to fly solo in a fighter jet (MiG-21 Bison)
- Captain Tanya Shergill: First woman parade adjutant at Republic Day (2020)
- Lt Gen Madhuri Kanitkar: First woman to reach 3-star rank from Army Medical Corps
- Air Marshal Padma Bandopadhyay: First woman Air Marshal in the IAF
- Surgeon Vice Admiral Punita Arora: First woman to reach Lieutenant General equivalent rank in Indian Armed Forces
- Major Anjana Bhaduria: First woman to top Army training at OTA (1992)
🎖️ Multidimensional Impact
📢 Social:
- Role models for young girls in STEM and leadership
- Enhances gender parity in Tier 2 & 3 cities through NCC and Sainik Schools
- Public awareness via films like Gunjan Saxena, Sam Bahadur, and Raazi
💼 Institutional:
- More inclusive HR and leadership pipelines
- Development of gender-sensitive policies across academies (NDA, OTA, IMA)
- Military Police induction to help with internal grievance redressal
🧠 Psychological:
- Breaks psychological barriers of combat roles
- Boosts confidence and emotional resilience among female cadets
🌏 Geopolitical:
- Enhances India’s role in UN Peacekeeping Missions (India ranks among the top contributors of women peacekeepers)
- Aligns with UNSCR 1325 (Women, Peace, and Security)
📚 Legal and Policy Reforms
- 2008: Permanent Commission in JAG and AEC (Army)
- 2015: Fighter pilot role opened in IAF
- 2017: Navy allows women in maritime reconnaissance
- 2020: SC allows women in command positions in Army
- 2021: SC mandates NDA entry for women
- 2023: Induction of women sailors and ground crew under Agnipath scheme
- 2024: Women allowed to appear for recruitment in Sainik Schools and RIMC
🧩 Challenges Faced
- Operational integration in combat roles (especially infantry, artillery)
- Infrastructure and training needs (hostels, sanitation, gender-sensitive protocols)
- Cultural resistance in traditionally male regiments and mess structures
- Gender-specific physiological challenges not accounted for in training modules
- Limited mentorship opportunities in high-command roles
- Lack of representation in Special Forces, submarines, frontline battalions
🔮 The Road Ahead
- Broader induction in combat arms across Infantry, Armored Corps, and Artillery
- Gender-neutral physical standards for NDA, CDS, OTA
- Expand representation in Special Forces, NSG, and para units
- Institutionalize mentorship and leadership programs for women cadets
- Create a Defence Gender Inclusion Policy under the Ministry of Defence
- Global exchange programs for women officers with allies like France, Israel, and USA
- Establish dedicated gender grievance redressal units in all wings
🌐 Women in Global Militaries: Comparison
| Country | Women in Combat Roles? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Yes | Women in Rangers, Marines, Navy SEALs (support roles) |
| Israel | Yes | Mandatory conscription for women, combat-ready battalions |
| UK | Yes | All roles including special forces open since 2018 |
| China | Limited | Mostly in medical, cyber and technical units |
| India | Expanding | Fighters, warships, command roles; infantry and elite units under review |
🏁 Conclusion: Marching Ahead with Pride
"Empowering women in uniform is not just about gender—it’s about enhancing the strength, versatility, and resilience of our armed forces."
India’s journey toward gender inclusion in the armed forces is a work in progress but a remarkable one. From medicine to missiles, logistics to leadership, Indian women are no longer just supporting the front—they are becoming it. The next decade will be crucial in cementing a defence culture that is gender-equal, operationally sound, and globally exemplary.
