Women Recruits In Defence Services

Women Recruits In Defence Services

In the Armed Forces, women are recruited as officers. The number of women officers commissioned in Army, Navy and Air Force (excluding Armed Forces Medical Services) in the last two years and the current year is as under:

Year       Army               Navy            Air Force
2010        93                       39                    145
2011       164                      68                    134
2012       86                         22                    30

Women are recruited in the Armed Forces within the overall authorized strength of the officers` cadre. There is no specified sanctioned strength for women officers.

There is no proposal to induct women into combat duties in the defence forces including as fighter pilots in Indian Air Force. Induction of women in combat duties has not been recommended by the studies carried out by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) in 2006 and High Level Tri-Services Committee in 2011.

The Ministry, after considering the comprehensive policy paper on induction and employment of women submitted by the Armed Forces and keeping in view the role and responsibility of the Armed Forces in defending the nation and protecting the territorial integrity of the country, have issued a Government letter on 11th November, 2011 inter alia laying down policy framework on the subject including grant of permanent commission to women short service commission officers, as under:

(i) Women Officers may continue to be inducted as Short Service Commission Officers (SSCOs) in Branches/Cadres where they are being inducted presently in the three Services;

(ii) Women SSCOs will be eligible for consideration for grant of permanent commission alongwith Men SSCOs in specific Branches in the three Services viz. Judge Advocate General (JAG) and Army Education Corps (AEC) of Army and their corresponding Branches in Navy and Air Force; Naval constructor in Navy and Accounts Branch in Air Force, as specified in Ministry`s letter No. 12(l)/2004-D(AG)Pt-II dated 26th September, 2008;

(iii) In addition to the above, in the Air Force, women SSCOs will be eligible alongwith men SSCOs, for consideration for grant of permanent commission in Technical, Administration, Logistics and Meteorology Branches.

The grant of permanent commission will be subject to willingness of the candidate and Service specific requirements, availability of vacancies, suitability, merit of the candidate as decided by each Service.

A matter regarding grant of permanent commission/release from Service of certain SSC women officers is sub-judice before the Supreme Court.

This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in separate written replies to ShrimatiMohsinaKidwai, Shri NK Singhand Shri Tarun Vijay in Rajya Sabha today- pib