Union Government States 10-11% Women In Indian Army Are Practical And Operationally Viable

Ritu Sanghvi

2 years ago

There is no doubt in my mind that the Indian Army is taking steps – slowly but surely – to ensure gender neutrality within the force. Whether it is coming up with the latest Agnipath scheme or their latest review of the army, things do seem to look like they’re changing for the better. What is their latest review you ask? Well, recently the Union government told the Supreme Court that 10-11% of all the women in the Indian army are not only practical but also operationally viable.

On Tuesday, the Union government told the Supreme Court that a representation of 10-11% of women in the Indian army was practical and operationally viable. However, the Centre also stated that the review over the next five years will help them decide how feasible it is to induct more women in the force to ensure gender neutrality.

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This response from the Union government came in a form of an affidavit when the Supreme Court was looking over a public interest litigation (PIL) that demanded equal opportunity for women for entering into the National Defence Academy (NDA), Rashtriya Indian Military College in Dehradun, and Sainik schools. The PIL was filed by advocate Kush Kalra who is based out of Delhi.

As per reports, on Monday, the ministry of defence told the Supreme Court in the affidavit, “A representation of approximately 10-11% of women in arms or services where they are being currently commissioned is a practical and operationally viable ratio.”

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The affidavit sent to the Supreme Court also states that the annual intake of officers in the Indian army is around 1200 and out of which 552 get comissioned into the 10 arms of services there are in the force. From those 10, there are 6 that fall under the combat sevices that have to be exclusively manned by male officers. And every year they have 372 vacancies earmarked for male officers in every batch, which leaves 180 vacancies per year in the 10 arms/services for manning the units. And 50% of women can be inducted for the 180 vacancies they have in the Indian army per year.