Evolution of Women’s Representation in Defence – An Analysis

1. A significant step forward for women in the defence sector was made when the Supreme Court in February 2020 ordered the government to provide permanent commissions to female officers in the Army’s non-combat support units and promotions equal to that of men.
2. In 1992, a notification was released permitting women to be recruited as officers in specific cadres, such as the Army Education Corps (AEC) and Judge Advocate General (JAG), and they were given permanent commission in 2008.
3. In the past years, women have achieved notable progress in the Indian Armed Forces, indicating an encouraging move towards gender parity in military roles.
4. As women’s positions in the defence sector evolve, this contributes to the development of an army that is more capable, resilient, and proactive and is equipped to tackle the intricate problems of the twenty-first century.

On January 26, 2024, India will commemorate its 75th Republic Day, a momentous day in the history of the country. With its emphasis on promoting “Nari Shakti,” the important role that women play in many sovereign nations, this year’s parade will be even more remarkable. This year, 144 women from the tri-service joined the parade. The procession was led by 100 female artists and performed Indian musical instruments to open the parade.[1]

Nowadays, women work alongside men in every profession. However, the misconception that gender disparity in the military forces still exists is a major problem. Regarding this, a significant step forward for women in the defence sector was made when the Supreme Court in February 2020 ordered the government to provide permanent commissions to female officers in the Army’s noncombat support units and promotions equal to that of men.[2] Gender disparity in society is being reshaped by this decision and the evolving role of women in the defence sector. Furthermore, there are plenty of examples that inspire Indian women to work in the defence sector now. 

Tracing the Evolution of Women’s Role in Defence

The establishment of the “Indian Military Nursing Service” in 1888, under British rule, marked the beginning of women’s involvement in the Indian army. 350 British Indian Army nurses served in World Wars I (1914–18) and II (1939–45); during this period, many were either killed, detained as prisoners of war, or reported missing in action. This includes the nurses who perished in February 1942 when Japanese bombers destroyed the SS Kuala. In May 1942, the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (India) was established. Noor Inayat Khan, a British World War II protagonist of Indian and American origin, was well-known for her work with the Special Operations Executive. During World War II, Kalyani Sen, a first-generation Indian navy woman and second officer, visited the United Kingdom as part of the Women’s Royal Indian Naval navy of The Royal Indian Navy.  Also, the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, an all-female unit, participated in World War II as a part of the Indian National Army under Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.[3] However, women were exempted from regular commissions by the Army Act of 1950, with some government-specified exceptions until 1958.

The Indian Army’s Medical Corps was the first organisation to regularly commission women on November 1, 1958. Women have been recruited to the military forces since 1992. The Army, Air Force, and Navy didn’t start appointing women as Short Service Commission (SSC) officers until 1992.[4] In 1992, a notification was released permitting women to be recruited as officers in specific cadres, such as the Army Education Corps (AEC) and Judge Advocate General (JAG), and they were given permanent commission in 2008. At first, women were recruited under a special enrolment policy for a term of five years, and that term was then extended to fourteen years under the Short Service Commission (SSC). [5]

The first-ever Rajpath march by all-female military contingents took place in 2015. Lt. Commander Sandhya Chauhan headed the Navy, Captain Divya Ajith led the Army, and Squadron Leader Sneha Shekhawat led the Air Force.[6] In the same year, in October, the Indian government approved a historic decision that it would accept female inductees as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force. This was a major change from the previous policy, where women used to be the only pilots in helicopters and transport aircraft.[7] Further, in 2016, the Indian Navy declared that female officers who serve for seven years will be granted permanent commissions, and from 2017 onwards, female officers will be allowed to join the Navy as pilots of maritime reconnaissance planes, including the Dornier and Boeing P8I.[8] Following this, Lt. Bhavana Kasturi achieved a milestone in 2019 by being the first female commander of an all-male Army Service Corps (ASC) contingent, and for the first time, the Assam Rifles contingent, comprised only of women, took part in the parade.[9] Finally, in 2020, after an extended period of litigation, female officers in the Indian Army ended the gender stereotype. Women officers in the Indian Army were granted permanent commissions through a formal letter issued by the Ministry of Defence.[10] Since the Supreme Court’s decision in February 2020, 577 women officers have been granted permanent commissions in the Indian Army. Previously, the government had opposed giving women officers permanent commissions, claiming absurd justifications such as inadequate hygiene in forward areas, caring for children and motherhood, living in isolation, and the troops from rural backgrounds rejecting female officers as commanders. Following the Supreme Court decision, the Army modified its policies regarding training, physical fitness, postings, and service courses to balance the working environment for male and female commanders.[11] Things have changed after significant Supreme Court rulings, as evidenced by the presence of women on Republic Day in 2021. As the first woman to be qualified for a combat mission in a fighter jet, Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth made history in 2021 when she stood upright on the IAF tableau and participated in the Republic Day parade as the first female fighter pilot. Similarly, Flight Lieutenant Swati Rathore made history that year when she was the first female participant in the flypast over Rajpath.[12] After the landmark ruling of 2020, in September 2021, the Supreme Court issued another ruling enabling women to take the NDA recruiting exam. Then, in November, at the second NDA exam, female candidates also took the test. 19 out of the 400 applicants who qualified for the list of meritorious applicants were female.[13]

In the past years, women have achieved notable progress in the Indian Armed Forces, indicating an encouraging move towards gender parity in military roles. A new generation of strong-willed female troops in all three services of the Indian Armed Forces is being ushered in by their involvement in combat and support duties, despite their longstanding contributions to the medical wings and as UN peacekeeping forces. Women can join the signal corps, engineers, and other non-combat wings of the parachutists, but they are not allowed to serve as combat personnel in these units as of 2023.[14] In 2023, the first batch of five female officers in the Army were commissioned into the Artillery Regiment, and three of them were assigned to front-line posts close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.[15]

On the occasion of India’s 75th Republic Day, women officers marched on Delhi’s Kartavya Path, demonstrating a major step towards gender inclusiveness in the nation’s armed forces. There was a tremendous appreciation for the all-women tri-service contingent, which was led by Captain Sandhya of the Army Military Police and included three supernumerary officers: Captain Sharanya Rao, Sub Lieutenant Anshu Yadav, and Flight Lieutenant Shrishti Rao. Marching along with another all-women contingent of the Armed Forces Medical Services, led by Major Srishti Khullar. The contingent included Captain Amba Samant from the Army Dental Corps, Surgeon Lieutenant Kanchana from the Indian Navy, and Flight Lieutenant Dhivya Priya from the Indian Air Force.[16] 13,000 women made their way to the head of the procession as a symbol of the strength and vibrancy of our country. More than a hundred female musicians playing Indian musical instruments led the procession for the first time. Women musicians played songs by Sankh, Naadswaram, Nagada, and other artists as the procession got underway. As a symbol of nari shakti or women’s power, female pilots entranced the crowd throughout the fly-past as well.[17]

 The Significant Role of Women in the Armed Forces

In the past, even the idea of women combating with their arms would have made people uneasy. It was believed that only men were competent for combat. However, this is an outdated idea, and they have excelled in every pursuit. In the military forces, women’s responsibilities have evolved significantly, from providing medical care to taking on combat roles. Women play a key role in several operational jobs that involve combat, intelligence, logistics, and communications. They play an important role in the functioning of hospitals, the care of wounded soldiers, and the military forces’ overall health and welfare. Their efforts directly enhance the armed forces’ overall operational efficiency. The presence of both genders in the armed forces helps to reinforce, and filling multiple positions that exist within the forces requires competent individuals.[18] Gender equality has been highly praised as a result of the long-standing permission granted to women to join the military forces by developed countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, among many others. Similarly, as a responsible country, India is exhibiting an example by granting its women the opportunities that they deserve. Furthermore, young women are encouraged to explore professions in the military by women who succeed in the defence sector and act as role models for future generations. By defying gender stereotypes and eliminating hurdles for women in a variety of professional fields, their success helps to break down obstacles.[19]

Conclusion

Women’s changing roles in the defence sector mark an important advancement towards diversity, equality, and gender inclusion in the armed forces. There has been a noticeable shift throughout time from a limited involvement in non-combat positions to a wider range of positions, including combat responsibilities in certain branches. This progress has been made possible by governmental reforms, a shift in public opinion, and an understanding of the critical responsibilities that women may play in the defence and security of this country. As women’s positions in the defence sector evolve, this contributes to the development of an army that is more capable, resilient, and proactive and is equipped to tackle the intricate problems of the twenty-first century.

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Anjali Singh