‘Over 10,000 Women Officers Serving in Different Categories of Indian Defence Forces’, Says Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt in Rajya Sabha
The number of women officers serving in the defence forces is 10,493, of which nearly 4,734 are Military Nursing Service officers, the Parliament was told on Monday.
New Delhi, March 28: The number of women officers serving in the defence forces is 10,493, of which nearly 4,734 are Military Nursing Service officers, the Parliament was told on Monday.
A total of 1,705 women officers are serving in the Indian Army, 1,640 in the Indian Air Force, while there are 559 women officers in the Navy, 1,855 in the Armed Forces Medical Services, and 4,734 are Military Nursing Service officers, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt told the Rajya Sabha.
Noting that the Combat employment philosophy of women in the armed forces is a continuously evolving process and regularly reviewed by the government, he said that at present, the women are being commissioned into the Army into ten arms and services -- 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 women officers are now being inducted in all combat roles, while the Navy has already deputed 28 women officers onboard ships. Women officers are also deployed in combat role onboard naval aircraft and ship borne helicopters. Indian Armed Forces Jobs For Women: More Than 300 Vacancies In Indian Army, Navy and Air Force; Check Full List.
The minister also said that provision for enrollment of women as Other Ranks in Corps of Military Police in the Indian Army has been introduced in 2019, and under it, 1,700 women personnel have been planned to be inducted in a phased manner -- approximately 100 per year.
The induction of women has commenced from 2020, and a total 300 vacancies for recruitment of Women Military Police have been released till date.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 28, 2022 07:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).