Jump to content

Women in the Indian Armed Forces

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Field MarshalSir Claude AuchinleckinspectsWomen's Auxiliary Corps (India)personnel,c. 1947
A Women's Auxiliary Corps private on duty in theorderlyroom of aRoyal Air Forcestation in India, August 1943
Women of the Women's Auxiliary Corps Naval Wing, 1945

In theIndian Armed Forceswomen are allowed to join incombat service supportbranches and innon combatantroles only and they can only become officers except theCorps of Military Policeof theIndian Armywhere women can becomesepoystoo. TheIndian Air Forcehad 13.09% female officers in 2018 and 8.50% female officers in 2014; theIndian Navyhad 6% female officers in 2018 and 3% female officers in 2014 and theIndian Armyhad 3.80% female officers in 2018 and 3% female officers in 2014.[1][2]In 2020, three officers had the rank of lieutenant-general or equivalent, all in the Medical Services. In May 2021, 83 women were inducted assepoysfor the first time in theIndian Army'sCorps of Military Police.[3]

History[edit]

In 1888, theBritish Indian Army(BIA) established amilitary branchknown as the Indian Military Nursing Service (IMNS), which recruited female nurses. This was the first time that the BIA recruited female service members into its ranks.[4]Female IMNS nurses served duringWorld War IandWorld War II,350 of whom either died, were taken asprisoners of waror were declaredmissing in action;one of the largest casualties suffered by the IMNS occurred on February 1942, when the SSKuala,which was transporting several nurses, was sunk byImperial Japanese Armed Forcesbombers.[4]In May 1942, theWomen's Auxiliary Corpswas established to assist BIA operations; by the end of World War II, it had recruited 11,500 women.[5]

Noor Inayat Khan,who was of Indian descent, served in theSpecial Operations Executive(SOE) during World War II. She was secretly sent toGerman-occupied Franceto assist in SOE operations there. Khan was betrayed and captured before being subsequently executed at theDachau concentration camp,and was posthumously awarded theGeorge Crossfor her service.[6]Kalyani Sen,the first Indian servicewoman who visited the United Kingdom, served in theRoyal Indian Navy'sWomen's Royal Indian Naval Serviceduring World War II.[7]In 2021, theIndian Armed Forces'National Defence Academyentrance exam was opened up to female cadets.[8]

Indian Army[edit]

Summary table of commission by corps[edit]

See also:Army ranks and insignia of India

Under the Army Act of 1950, women were ineligible for regular commissions except in "such corps, departments or branches which the central government may specify by way of notifications."[9]On 1 November 1958, the Army Medical Corps became the first unit of the Indian Army to grant regular commissions to women.[10]Since 1992, women were first inducted in to various branches of Indian Army only in short service commission.[9]In 2008, women were first inducted as permanent commissioned officers in Legal and Education corps, in 2020 they were first inducted in 8 more corps as permanent commissioned officers.[11]As of 2020, women are not yet allowed as combatants in the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army or other special forces, but they can joinparatrooperswings of their respective arms like paraEME,parasignals,paraASC,etc.

Here is the status of women's induction in various branches of army in any role as well as in coveted permanent commissioned officers role.[12][9]

Serial Number Name of corps/regiment Women commissioned Since Notes
1 Army Aviation Corps Yes 2020[12] Women cannot get a permanent commission.
2 Army Corps of Signals Yes 1992[9] Since 2020 in permanent commission (short service commission).[12]
3 Army Dental Corps Yes 1888 or earlier[4] Since 1958 in permanent commission (long service commission).[10]
4 Army Education Corps Yes 1992[9] Since 2008 in permanent commission (short service commission).[12]
5 Army Medical Corps Yes 1888 or earlier[4] Since 1958 in permanent commission (long service commission).[10]
6 Army Ordnance Corps Yes 1992[9] Since 2020 in permanent commission (short service commission).[12]
7 Army Postal Service Corps Yes 1992[9] Women cannot get a permanent commission.
8 Army Service Corps Yes 2020[12] Since 2020 in permanent commission (short service commission).
9 Corps of Army Air Defence Yes 2020[12] Since 2020 in permanent commission (short service commission).
10 Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers Yes 1992[9] Since 2020 in permanent commission (short service commission).[12]
11 Corps of Engineers Yes 2020[12] Since 2020 in permanent commission (short service commission).
12 Corps of Military Police Yes 2020[13] First inducted since 2020 (short service commission).[13]
13 Defence Security Corps No N.A. Women cannot be commissioned.
14 Intelligence Corps Yes 2020 (short service commission)[12] Capt. Ganeve Lalji was the firstAide de campto an army commander (Lieutenant General).[14]
15 Judge Advocate General's Department Yes 1992[9] Since 2008 in permanent commission (short service commission).[11]
16 Military Nursing Service Yes 1888[4] Major General Joyce Gladys Roach is the present commander.[15]
17 Pioneer Corps No N.A. Women cannot be commissioned.
18 Regiments (Armoured) No N.A. Women cannot be commissioned.[16]
19 Regiments (Artillery) Yes 2023 Since 2023 in permanent commission (short service commission).[16]
20 Regiments (Infantry) No N.A. Women cannot be commissioned.[16]
21 Regiments (Mechanised) No N.A. Women cannot be commissioned.
22 Remount and Veterinary Corps No N.A. Women cannot be commissioned.
23 Territorial Army Yes 2018[17]

Notable women[edit]

A female officer of theIndian Armybriefing Russian soldiers during a joint exercise in 2015.

As of 2020, women are not allowed to serve in combat units such asInfantry,Mechanised infantryandArmoured corps List of regiments of the Indian Army.[12]

On 27 August 1976,Gertrude Alice Ram,the military nursing service Matron-in-Chief, became the first woman officer in the Indian Army to attain the rank ofMajor General,and the first female officer in the Indian Armed Forces to attaintwo-star rank.With Ram's promotion, India became only the third nation in the world to promote a woman to flag rank, behind the United States and France.[18]

In 1992, theIndian Armybegan inducting women officers in non-medical roles.[19]On 19 January 2007, the United Nations first all female peacekeeping force made up of 105 Indian policewomen was deployed toLiberia.[20]Ruchi Sharmabecame the first operational paratrooper in the Indian Army, joining in 1996.[21]

Priya Jhingan,commissioned in 1993, is one of the first 25 women to join the Indian Army as an officer.[22][23][24]Alka Khurana Sharma also one of the first women to join the Indian Army and served ten years in the Army Ordnance Corps. In 1992, she was the first woman officer to participate in theArmy Dayand theRepublic Dayparades.[25]SapperShanti Tiggawas the first femalejawan(private rank) in the Indian Army who joined in 2011.[14]Priya Semwal's husband had fallen in a counter-insurgency operation in Arunachal Pradesh in 2012; she went onto join as an officer in theIndian Army Corps of EME,the first wife of a jawan whose husband had fallen in a counter-insurgency operation to do so.[14]

Lieutenant ColonelMitali Madhumita,commissioned in 2000, is the first woman officer in India to receive agallantry award,who received theSena Medalin 2011 for exemplary courage shown during theattack on the Indian embassy in Kabulby terrorists inKabul,Afghanistanon 26 February 2010,[26]and operations inJammu-Kashmir[27]and thenortheast states.[26][28][29]

Anjana Bhaduria, who joined the first-ever batch of female cadets in 1992 at theOfficers Training Academy,Chennai, is the first female officer in the Indian Army to win the gold medal. Including Priya Jhingan and her, the first batch of women officers of the Indian Army was commissioned in March 1993.[30][14]Divya Ajith Kumar,commissioned in 2010, is the first female officer to receive the Sword of Honor.[31][32]She led all women contingent of 154 women officers and cadets during theRepublic Day paradeof 2015.[32]

Captain Swati Singh, an engineer and then only female officer in her 63 Brigade of the Indian Army, is the first female officer to be deployed atNathu Lapass asSignals in-charge.[14]In February 2020Madhuri Kanitkarbecame the third woman to become aLieutenant Generalin the Indian Army. Along with her husband who is also a Lieutenant General they will be the first couple to both reach the rank.[33]

On 17 February 2020, theSupreme Court of Indiasaid that womenofficersinIndian Armycan get command positions at par with male officers. The court said that the government's arguments against it were discriminatory, disturbing and based on stereotype. The court also said that permanent commission should be available to all women, regardless of years of service, and that this order must be implemented in 3 months.[34]The government had earlier said troops would not accept women as commanding officers.[35]Consequently, 8 more corps or branches started to induct women as commissioned officers.[12]

Ganeve Lalji,Corps of Military intelligence,was the first woman to be anAide de campto an Army Commander (Lieutenant General).[14]

Indian Navy[edit]

All-women crew ofINSV Tarinion completion of their voyage ofcircumnavigation of the globe

In October 1976, Dr. Barbara Ghosh became the first woman officer in the Indian Navy to attain the rank of commander. Having joined the navy in 1961, she was also the first woman medical officer to receive a permanent naval commission.[36]

Dr.Punita Arora,commissioned in 1968, is the first woman in the Indian Army to reach the second highest rank,Lieutenant General,[37]and the first femaleVice Admiral.[38]

On 8 March 2018,International Women's Daythe six-member crew ofINSV Tarinithat participated inNavika Sagar Parikramanamely Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi, Lt Cdr P. Swathi, Lt Cdr Pratibha Jammwal, Lt Payal Gupta, Lt Aishwarya Boddapati, and Lt Shourgrakpam Vijaya Devi were conferredNari Shakti Puraskarfor outstanding contribution towards women empowerment. Theawardwas received byLieutenantShourgrakpam Vijaya Devi, who is Northeast India's first female officer on behalf of team.[39]All six women officers were also awarded theNao Sena Medal(Gallantry) and theTenzing Norgay Adventure Award.[40]

On 2 December 2019, Sub-lieutenantShubhangi Swaroopbecame the first womanpilotfor the Indian Navy. She will be flying theDornier 228 surveillance aircraft.[41]In September 2020, two women officers - Sub LieutenantsKumudini TyagiandRiti Singh- were deployed onboard warships for the first time. They were selected to serve as airborne tacticians to operate from the deck of warships.[42][43]

On 26 August 2021, Surgeon Vice AdmiralSheila S. Mathaibecame the fourth woman to be promoted tothree-star rankand the first direct navy woman vice-admiral. Surgeon Vice AdmiralArti Sarinis the third woman to holdthree-star rankin the Indian Navy.[44]

In December 2023,Lieutenant CommanderPrerna Deosthaleebecame the first woman officer of the Indian Navy to command an Indian Naval Warship.[45]

Indian Air Force[edit]

Women Pilots of the Indian Air Force

Indian Air Force inducts women in all roles, including combat and support roles. As of September 2020, there were 1,875 female officers serving in the IAF, including 10 pilots and 18 navigators.[46]

The first woman officer in the Indian Air Force,Vijayalakshmi Ramanan,was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps and was seconded to the Air Force. She retired as a Wing Commander in the Air Force in 1979.[47]

In August 1966, Flight Lieutenant Kanta Handa, an IAF medical officer, became the first female IAF officer to receive a commendation for her service during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war.[48]In 1994, women joined the air force as pilots in support role;Gunjan Saxenaand Sreevidya Rajan[49]were among the first women to fly in a combat zone duringKargil War(May–July 1999).[14]

In 2006, Deepika Misra became the first IAF woman pilot to train for theSarang display team.[14]In 2012, Nivedita Singh (Flight Lieutenant) from Rajasthan, became the first woman from the Indian Air Force to summit theMount Everest.[14]

In 2015,Indian Air Forceopened new combat air force roles for women asfighter pilots,adding to their role as helicopter pilots in the Indian Air Force.[50]
On 22 May 2019, Bhawana Kanth became the first woman fighter pilot to qualify to undertake combat missions.[51] Women are now taking up combat roles inIndian Air ForcewithAvani Chaturvedi,Mohana Singh Jitarwal,andBhawana Kanthbeing the first 3 womenfighter pilots[52]MarkingInternational Women's Dayon 8 March 8, 2020 all 3fighter pilotswere awardedNari Shakti Puraskar.[53]

Wing CommanderShaliza Dhamibecame the first woman officer to be given permanent commission with the Indian Air Force.[54]Squadron LeaderMinty Agarwalbecame the first woman to receive aYudh Seva Medal.[55]

Special Forces of India[edit]

As of 2020, Women are not yet allowed as combatant in the combat specialist forces, such asGhatak Force,para commandos,etc.

Thepara commandosis a voluntary service and the recruitment procedure of Para and Para SF does not strictly mention any gender for the soldiers that can participate. It is not clear if any women have been able to participate or qualify for this ELITE force.

The Indian Airforce and the Indian Navy have allowed women to join theGarud Commando Forceand theMARCOSrespectively. It is not clear as of 2023, if any women have been able to qualify.

Dr.Seema Rao,also known as "India's Wonder Woman",[56][57][58]is India's first woman commando trainer,[59]having trained over 15,000Special Forces of India[60][61](including the NSG, MARCOS, GARUD)[62]as full-time guest trainer for 20 years without compensation[62][63]as a pioneer inclose quarter battle(CQB).[64][65]

Paramilitary forces of India[edit]

Women inIndian Coast Guard,Assam RiflesandSpecial Frontier Force.

Indian Coast Guard[edit]

Women can join theIndian Coast Guardin officer ranks as general duty, pilot or law officers.[66]In January 2017, Indian Coast Guard became the first force to deploy four female officers, assistant commandants Anuradha Shukla, Sneha Kathayat, Shirin Chandran and Vasundhara Chouksey, in combat roles on board KV Kuberhovercraftship patrolling theIndian maritime zone bordering Pakistan and Bangladesh.[67]

Assam Rifles[edit]

In April 2016,Assam Riflesinducted a first batch of 100 female soldiers who had undergone year-long training programme and graduated in the passing-out parade at the Assam Rifles Training Centre and School inShokhüviinChümoukedima DistrictofNagaland.They will be deployed atCordon And Search Operation(CASO),Mobile Check Posts(MCP) androad opening operationsin various battalions for search, frisking and interrogation of women, crowd control and dispersal of female agitators.[68][69]

In August 2020, around 30 rifle-women from Assam Rifles were deployed along the LoC for the first time. They are led by Captain Gursimran Kaur of the Army Service Corps.[70][71]

Special Frontier Force[edit]

Special Frontier Force,created in 1962 as a most covert and elite Special Force unit as the armed wing ofRAWto conduct covert operations behind the Chinese Lines in the event of another Sino-Indian War,[72]inducted 500 female in 1972 for the first time in medical, signals and clerical roles.[73]

Central Armed Police Forces[edit]

Women of the Border Security Force at the Indian Pakistan border

In 1992,Asha Sinha,a 1982 Batch IPS Officer, became the First Woman Commandant in theParamilitary forces of Indiawhen she was posted as Commandant,Central Industrial Security ForceinMazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limitedand after 34 years of service she retired asDirector General of Police(DGP). In 2018 an IPS Officer Archana Ramasundram of 1980 Batch became the First Woman to become theDirector General of Policeof a Paramilitary Force as DG,Sashastra Seema Bal,she retired after serving for 37 years.

In March 2016, govt allowed direct-entry women officers in all fiveCentral Armed Police Forces,namelyCentral Reserve Police Force(CRPF),Border Security Force(BSF),Indo-Tibetan Border Police(ITBP),Sashastra Seema Bal(SSB) andCentral Industrial Security Force(CISF), allow direct entry to women in junior rank via direct recruitment and also to women officer viaUnion Public Service Commissionin supervisory combat roles.[74]In March 2016, Home MinisterRajnath Singhannounced that women will be inducted in 33% constable-rank personnel in CRPF and CISF and 15% in the border guarding forces BSF, SSB and ITBP.[74]

Central Reserve Police Force[edit]

Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF) allows women officers in supervisory combat roles since a long time via UPSC route.[74]

Central Industrial Security Force[edit]

Central Industrial Security Force(CISF) allows women officers in supervisory combat roles since a long time via UPSC route.[74]

Border Security Force[edit]

Border Security Force(BSF) allowed women officers in supervisory combat roles in 2013.[74]

Sashastra Seema Bal[edit]

Sashastra Seema Bal(SSB) allowed women officers in supervisory combat roles in 2014.[74]

Indo-Tibetan Border Police[edit]

Indo-Tibetan Border Police(ITBP) allowed women officers in supervisory combat roles in 2016.[74]About 1.75% (1,500) of 80,000 ITBP personnel are women, mostly in the rank of constables (c. March 2016).[74]

Other Forces[edit]

Women also serve in theNational Security Guard(NSG),Special Protection Group(SPG),Railway Protection Force(RPF),National Disaster Response Force(NDRF) andBorder Roads Organisation(BRO).

National Security Guard[edit]

National Security Guard(NSG) (Black Cat Commandos) inducted female commandos for the first in 2011–12, however the first discrimination they faced was from the then female Chief Minister,Mayawatiwho refused to be guarded by the female commandos.[75]In 2015, govt announced that the female NSG Black Cat Commandos, who undergo the same training as their male counterpart, will be deployed in counter-terrorism operations as they also perform VIP protection duties.[76]

Special Protection Group[edit]

Special Protection Group(SPG) inducted female commandos in 2013, and then Prime MinisterManmohan Singh's wifeGursharan Kaurbecame the first SPG protectee to have women commandos.[77][78]

Railway Protection Force[edit]

Railway Protection Force(RPF) has female unit, Shakti Squad. In 2015, 25-year-old Debashmita Chattopadhyay became first female Assistant Security Commissioner (ASC) in RPF who took charge of the Shakti squad of RPF women constables.[79]

National Disaster Response Force[edit]

National Disaster Response Force(NDRF) got its first woman commander in 2015 when 40-years old senior Commandant Rekha Nambiar joined the 4th Battalion based in Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu to lead 1,000 personnel-strong all-men battalion.[80]

Border Roads Organisation[edit]

In June 2021, Vaishali Hiwase became the first women commanding officer to command aBRORoad Construction Company part of theIndia-China Border Roads.[81]

Three star officers[edit]

Six women have been promoted tothree-star rankin theIndian Armed Forces.All of them are from the Medical Corps and graduate medical doctors of theArmed Forces Medical College(AFMC).

S.No Photo Name Branch Date of promotion Notes
1 Lieutenant GeneralPunita Arora
PVSM,SM,VSM 		Indian Army 1 September 2004[82] First woman to be elevated to three-star rank. Later moved to theIndian Navyand held the rank ofVice Admiral.[83]
2 Air MarshalPadma Bandopadhyay
PVSM,AVSM,VSM 		Indian Air Force 1 October 2004[84] First woman to be promoted to three-star rank in theIndian Air Force.[85]
3 Lieutenant GeneralMadhuri Kanitkar
PVSM,AVSM,VSM 		Indian Army 29 February 2020 Last served as Deputy Chief of theIntegrated Defence Staff(Medical) (DCIDS (Med)) atHQ IDS.[86]
4 Surgeon Vice AdmiralSheila S. Mathai
NM,VSM 		Indian Navy 26 August 2021 Last served as Director General (Organization and Personnel) of Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).[87]
5 Lieutenant GeneralRajshree Ramasethu Indian Army 16 September 2021 Former Commandant of Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC).[88]
6 Surgeon Vice AdmiralArti Sarin
AVSM,VSM 		Indian Navy 5 October 2022 Current Director General Medical Services (Navy). Earlier held the rank ofAir Marshalin theIndian Air Force.[89]
7 Air MarshalSadhna S Nair
VSM 		Indian Air Force 23 October 2023 Current Director General Hospital Services (Armed Forces).[90]
8 Lieutenant GeneralKavita Sahai
SM,VSM 		Indian Army 1 February 2024 Current Commandant AMC Centre & College and OIC Records.[91]

In popular culture[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Indian Army's shameful treatment of women recruits".NDTV.
  2. ^Women to comprise 20% of Military Police,The Tribune, 18 Jan 2019.
  3. ^"Army inducts 1st batch of women in military police".Hindustan Times.9 May 2021.
  4. ^abcdeGonsalves, Colin; Sikdar, Usha (13 December 2017)."Indian Army must stop its discrimination against military nurses".Hindustan Times.Retrieved21 March2023.
  5. ^Perry, Frederick William (1990).The Commonwealth Armies: Manpower and Organization in Two World Wars.Manchester University Press.p. 1114.ISBN978-0-7190-2767-3.
  6. ^Grewal, Herpreet Kaur (23 October 2012)."Noor Inayat Khan: remembering Britain's Muslim war heroine".The Guardian.Retrieved21 March2023.
  7. ^Malhotra, Nishi (4 December 2016)."10 Daredevil Heroes of the Indian Navy You Should Know About".The Better India.Retrieved21 March2023.
  8. ^"India paves way for more women in armed forces".BBC News.8 September 2021.Retrieved21 March2023.
  9. ^abcdefghi"Army looks at change to accommodate women".Indian Express.16 February 2020.
  10. ^abc"Permanent Commissions for Women Doctors in the Army"(PDF).Press Information Bureau of India - Archive.29 October 1958.Retrieved31 December2020.
  11. ^abWOmen officers in combat and command role,Hindustan Times, Feb 2020.
  12. ^abcdefghijkl"Women officers in 8 more streams, MoD issues order".The Tribune India.24 July 2020.
  13. ^abArmy begins process to induct women as military police for the first time,The Print,25 April 2020.
  14. ^abcdefghiSanchari Pal (24 Jan 2017)Brave Indian female soldiers.The Better India.
  15. ^"Major General Joyce Gladys Roach takes over as ADG, MNS – India Strategic".Retrieved28 September2019.
  16. ^abc"Five women become Colonels in Army's 'combat-support arms' for the first time".The Times of India.23 August 2021.
  17. ^Women to be inducted into Territorial Army,The Hindu, 2018.
  18. ^"India's First Woman General"(PDF).Press Information Bureau of India - Archive.30 August 1976.Retrieved3 April2020.
  19. ^"Women officers entry".
  20. ^"First All-Female U.N. Peacekeeping Force to Deploy to Liberia".Fox News Channel.19 January 2007.Retrieved28 January2008.
  21. ^Mukherjee, Oindrila (1 March 2018)."First jump is like first love, exciting and exhilarating: Capt (Retd) Sharma".The Indian Express.Retrieved7 August2020.
  22. ^"List of 'First' Indian women in Indian history: Listicles: Microfacts".indiatoday.intoday.in.1 July 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 5 July 2015.
  23. ^Dr. Saroj Kumar Singh (2017).Role of Women in India.REDSHINE.ISBN978-93-86483-09-6.
  24. ^"The Times Kuwait".timeskuwait.com.24 January 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 4 August 2016.
  25. ^"कौन हैं 1992 आर्मी डे परेड और गणतंत्र दिवस परेड में भाग लेने वाली पहली महिला सैन्‍य अधिकारी"[Who are the first women military officers to participate in the 1992 Army Day Parade and the Republic Day Parade?].aajtak.in(in Hindi). 8 April 2021.Retrieved23 April2023.
  26. ^ab"Only army woman to win gallantry award fights to stay in the force".hindustantimes.com. 21 August 2015.Retrieved13 July2017.
  27. ^"Sena Medal for female Army officer".The Hindu.thehindu.com. 25 February 2011.Retrieved13 July2017.
  28. ^"Lt Col Mithali to remain in service".tribuneindia.com.Retrieved15 July2017.
  29. ^"First woman officer to get Sena medal".The Times of India.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 26 February 2011.Retrieved13 July2017.
  30. ^"Marching Ahead: 13 Incredibly Brave Women in Indian Armed Forces Who Broke the Glass Ceiling".thebetterindia.com.24 January 2017.Retrieved15 April2023.
  31. ^"Chennai cadet creates history at OTA passing-out parade".The Hindu.19 September 2010.Retrieved9 July2015.
  32. ^ab"25-year-old Captain Divya Ajith leads first all-women contingent in Republic Day parade".First Post.26 January 2015.Retrieved9 July2015.
  33. ^Mascarenhas, Anuradha (29 February 2020)."Maj Gen Madhuri Kanitkar third woman in the country to assume Lt Gen rank".The Indian Express.Retrieved1 March2020.
  34. ^"Women Army Officers Can Get Command Roles. Top Court Slams" Stereotypes "".NDTV.com.
  35. ^"Male troops won't accept women commanders: Government to SC".The Times of India.5 February 2020.
  36. ^"Indian Navy's First Lady Commander"(PDF).Press Information Bureau of India - Archive.22 October 1976.Retrieved3 April2020.
  37. ^"The General in Sari".Rediff.
  38. ^"Navy gets its 1st lady vice-admiral".The Times Of India.16 June 2005.
  39. ^"Navika Sagar Parikrama - 'Nari Shakti Puraskar' | Indian Navy".www.indiannavy.nic.in.
  40. ^"Indian Navy women officers who conquered sea get gallantry awards".India Today.Retrieved21 February2024.
  41. ^"Sub-lieutenant Shivangi becomes first woman pilot for Indian Navy".India Today. ANI. 2 December 2019.Retrieved3 December2019.
  42. ^"Meet The Navy's First Women Combat Aviators To Be Deployed On Warships".NDTV.com.Retrieved8 October2023.
  43. ^Scroll Staff (21 September 2020)."In a historic first, two women officers to be posted on Indian Navy warships".Scroll.in.Retrieved8 October2023.
  44. ^"Surgeon Vice-Admiral Arti Sarin takes charge as Pune AFMC director".Hindustan Times.9 October 2022.Retrieved8 October2023.
  45. ^Livemint (2 December 2023)."Lt Cdr Prerna, the first woman to command Indian Naval Warship | Who is she?".mint.Retrieved4 December2023.
  46. ^"IAF's Rafale fleet to have first woman pilot soon".The Indian Express.PTI. 15 August 2019.Retrieved21 September2020.
  47. ^"IAF's first woman officer dies at 96".The Indian Express.21 October 2020.Retrieved21 October2020.
  48. ^"Air Force Lady Doctor Commended"(PDF).Press Information Bureau of India - Archive.6 August 1966.Retrieved3 April2020.
  49. ^"From Palakkad to Kargil: IAF officer Sreevidya Rajan intv on 'Gunjan Saxena' film".The News Minute.18 August 2020.Retrieved18 August2020.
  50. ^"India paves way for women in military combat roles"Channel NewsAsia24 Oct 2015
  51. ^"Bhawana Kanth: Meet first woman fighter pilot of Indian Air Force".India Today.
  52. ^"Eight Women Fighter Pilots in Indian Air Force as on July 1: Govt".26 July 2019.
  53. ^"IAF's first women fighter pilots get 'Nari Shakti Puraskar'".Business Standard India.8 March 2020.
  54. ^Joshi, Shamani (28 August 2019)."The Indian Air Force Just Got its First Female Flight Commander".Vice.Retrieved30 August2019.
  55. ^"'I witnessed Wing Commander Abhinandan shooting down Pakistan's F-16 aircraft'".Mint.ANI. 15 August 2019.Retrieved17 August2019.
  56. ^"India's wonder woman".Deccan Chronicle.Retrieved25 June2017.
  57. ^"India's Wonder Woman".The Asian Age.Retrieved25 June2017.
  58. ^"India's Wonder Woman Seema Rao: The only Female Combat Trainer in the Country".Being Indian.Retrieved26 June2017.
  59. ^"Interview with Dr. Seema Rao".naaree.com.Retrieved11 August2015.
  60. ^"India's only female commando trainer".storypick.Retrieved11 July2016.
  61. ^"COMBAT SPECIALIST SEEMA RAO".Verve Magazine. 12 December 2016.Retrieved12 December2016.
  62. ^abThis Amazing Woman Has Been Training India's Special Forces for 20 Years without Compensation!,19 July 2016.
  63. ^"Shy Another Day".DNA.Retrieved25 June2017.
  64. ^"Dr Seema Rao Commando Trainer".indiatimes.com.Retrieved25 June2017.
  65. ^"Training the Indian Forces".BBC. 25 January 2017.Retrieved25 June2017.
  66. ^Kallarackal, Arun (24 June 2015)."Indian Coast Guard Female entry modes and posts".
  67. ^In A First, Indian Coast Guard Deploys Female Officers In Combat Roles
  68. ^Assam Rifles inducts first batch of 100 women personnel,Economic Times,7 April 2016.
  69. ^No longer a male bastion, Assam Rifles gets its first women's contingent,Hindustan Times,8 April 2016.
  70. ^Iqbal, Naveed (16 August 2020)."Frontline: Meet the Army Riflewomen posted at the LoC".The Indian Express.Retrieved25 August2020.
  71. ^Das, Ria (5 August 2020)."In A First, Women Soldiers Of Assam Rifles Deployed On Combat Duty Near LoC".SheThePeople.TV.Retrieved25 August2020.
  72. ^Most Elite and Covert Special Force Unit of Indian Paramilitary – Special Frontier Force (SFF),4 Oct 2017.
  73. ^"Large majority of Special Frontier Force officers involved in messy sex scandal".India Today.
  74. ^abcdefghGovernment allows women to be combat officers in all Central Armed Police Forces,Economic Times,13 March 2016.
  75. ^Battle of sexes: NSG loses its last woman commando after she goes on maternity leave,India Today, 29 Oct 2017.
  76. ^NSG planning to deploy women commandos in anti-terror operations,17 Oct 2015.
  77. ^"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife has become the first Special Protection Group (SPG) protectee to have women commandos in her immediate security cordon.",Indian Express,9 Nov 2013.
  78. ^PM’s wife first SPG protectee to have women commandos,Indian Express,18 Feb 2014.
  79. ^More women personnel in railway stations, trains soon: RPF,Indian Express,27 Mar 2015.
  80. ^National Disaster Response Forces (NDRF) gets first woman commander,14 Aug 2015.
  81. ^"Border Roads Organisation Appoints First Woman Officer For Road Project Along Border With China".NDTV.ANI. 29 April 2021.Retrieved12 June2021.
  82. ^"First Lady Lt Gen of Indian Army".archive.pib.gov.in.
  83. ^DPR, ADG (M&C) (7 March 2020)."Women of HonourSalute to Dr Punita Arora, first woman officer from Navy, to be promoted to a three-star rank, second highest rank in Armed forces. She was the first-ever woman Vice Admiral. #WomensDay #IWD2020 #EachforEqual #SheInspiresUspic.twitter.com/t0jOweHpRf".@SpokespersonMoD.
  84. ^"Service Record for Air Marshal Padmavathy Bandhopadhyay 11528 MED at Bharat Rakshak.com".Bharat Rakshak.
  85. ^Force, Indian Air (27 January 2020)."#Congratulations to Air Marshal Padmavathy Bandopadhyay, PVSM AVSM VSM (Retd),first woman Air Marshal of IAF, on receiving #PadmaShri in the field of Medicine. Padma Shri is awarded for distinguished service in any field & announced on the occasion of #RepublicDay every year.pic.twitter.com/4zmILyKU8R".@IAF_MCC.
  86. ^ARMY, ADG PI-INDIAN (3 March 2020)."Lt Gen Madhuri Kanitkar is the third woman officer of #IndianArmedForces to assume the coveted rank of Lt Gen. Her #Husband is Lt Gen Rajeev Kanitkar (Retd). #Proud Couple is part of the Defence Fraternity. #IndianArmy#NationFirstpic.twitter.com/9eRIfZQg1i".@adgpi.
  87. ^"Indian Navy gets its first direct lady Vice Admiral".Indian Navy.26 August 2021.Retrieved23 April2023.
  88. ^"Lt General Rajshree Ramasethu takes over as Commandant of AFMC Pune".The Indian Express.17 September 2021.
  89. ^"Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin relinquishes command of AFMC, is now DGMS Air".The Indian Express.12 January 2023.Retrieved20 April2023.
  90. ^"Air Marshal Sadhna Saxena Nair takes charge as Director General Hospital Services (Armed Forces); becomes the first lady officer to hold the position".pib.gov.in.Retrieved25 October2023.
  91. ^"Kavita Sahai 1st woman Lt General to command Army medical corps center & college".The Times of India.1 February 2024.Retrieved1 February2024.
  92. ^"The Test Case trailer: Nimrat Kaur looks tough as nails in her upcoming web series. Watch video".The Indian Express.7 April 2017.Retrieved14 February2018.
  93. ^"Angad Bedi joins the star cast of Gunjan Saxena's biopic, Kargil Girl".Bollywood Hungama.25 February 2019.Retrieved27 April2019.
  94. ^"Janhvi Kapoor shooting in Lucknow".The Times of India.22 February 2019.Retrieved27 April2019.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Women_in_the_Indian_Armed_Forces&oldid=1227487146"