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Number Of Women Serving In The Indian Defence Forces

The number of women personnel in the Armed Forces is as under:

Indian Army:

Arm/ServiceStrength of Women Officers (excluding Medical/Dental/Nursing officers)
Army Air Defence82
Corps of Engineers212
Corps of Signals243
Army Service Corps272
Army Ordnance Corps309
Electronics and Mechanical Engineers274
Intelligence Corps82
Army Aviation Corps29
Army Education Corps82
Judge Advocate General Branch120

Also Read: DRDO Conduct 2 Flight Tests Of Army Version Of MRSAM

JCOs/OR: Provision for enrolment of women as Other Ranks in the Corps of Military Police in the Indian Army has been introduced in 2019.  Under this scheme, 1700 women personnel have been planned to be inducted in a phased manner (approximately 100 per year).  The induction of women has commenced from the year 2020.  A total of 300 vacancies for recruitment of Women Military Police have been released till date.  The status of recruitment is as given below:

Recruiting YearVacancies ReleasedIntakeRemarks
2019-20101100Completed training and inducted.
2020-2199Recruitment withheld due to COVID-19 restrictions.
2021-22100

Indian Air Force:

BranchStreamStrength of Women Officers (excluding Medical/Dental/Nursing officers)
Flying PilotF15
Flying PilotH53
Flying PilotT53
Flying (Navigator) 21
Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) 60
Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) 551
Administration 407
Logistics 150
Accounts 135
Education 95
Meteorological 100

Indian Navy:

Branch/Cadre/SpecialisationStrength of Women Officers (excluding Medical/Dental/Nursing officers)
Executive (Logistics)134
Executive (Law)08
Executive (Observers)73
Executive (Pilot)10
Executive (ATC)80
Executive (NAI)34
Executive (PR)01
Executive (SP)01
Education (General Service)120
Education (Met)26
Engineering (Naval Constructor)72

Armed Forces Medical Services: The number of women serving in Armed Forces Medical Services are as follows:

ServiceArmy Medical Corps(AMC)Army Dental Corps (ADC)Military Nursing Service (MNS)
Army1240177 4734
Navy1457
Air Force2815

Indian ArmyThe details of women officers who have been granted permanent commission in Indian Army are as under:

Arm/ServiceStrength of Women Officers (excluding Medical/Dental/Nursing officers)
Army Air Defence22
Corps of Engineers89
Corps of Signals75
Army Service Corps118
Army Ordnance Corps148
Electronics and Mechanical Engineers97
Intelligence Corps32
Army Aviation Corps06
Army Education Corps76
Judge Advocate General Branch22

Indian Air Force: The details of women officers who have been granted permanent commission in Indian Air Force are as under:

BranchStrength of Women Officers (excluding Medical/Dental/Nursing officers)
Flying Pilot – F00
Flying Pilot – T04
Flying Pilot – H09
Flying (Navigator)02
Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical)06
Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics)79
Administration133
Logistics54
Accounts52
Education26
Meteorological16

Indian NavyThe details of women officers who have been granted permanent commission and presently serving in Indian Navy are as under:

Branch/Cadre/SpecialisationStrength of Women Officers (excluding Medical/Dental officers)
Executive (Logistics)16
Executive (Observers)04
Education (General Service)20
Education (Met)06
Engineering (Naval Constructor)03

Armed Forces Medical Services:

Arm/ServiceNumber of Women granted Permanent Commission
AMC157
ADC22
MNS797

The combat employment philosophy of women in the Armed Forces is a continuously evolving process and is regularly reviewed by them. At present, the women are being commissioned in the Indian Army into ten Arms & Services viz. Corps of Engineers, Corps of Signals, Army Air Defence, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Aviation Corps, Intelligence Corps, Judge Advocate General Branch, and Army Education Corps in addition to the Armed Forces Medical Services.

The IAF has commissioned 15 women fighter pilots till date and the women officers are now being inducted in all combat roles.

Indian Navy has already deputed 28 women officers on board ships.  Women officers are also deployed in combat roles onboard naval Aircraft/ship-borne helicopters.

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Smt Vandana Chavan in Rajya Sabha on March 28, 2022.

Rajesh Negi

Defence & Sports Enthusiast

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