New Delhi, March 5: Women officers in the Indian Army would now have the option to take up permanent commission or PC through the Short Service Commission (SSC), the Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. Women officers will be granted permanent commission in the Indian Army in all the ten branches where women are inducted for Short Service Commission, the ministry said.

The Army recruits women officers under SSC for streams like air defence, engineering, signals and services. Under SSC, officers are allowed tenures ranging from five to 14 years of services. Permanent commission allows them to serve till the age of retirement. At present, the Army offers permanent commission to women officers in two branches — judge advocate general (JAG) and education. Permanent Commission For Women Officers in Indian Army? Government Tells Supreme Court, We Are Open.

Now permanent commission will be granted in Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Army Air Defence, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordinance Corps and Intelligence also to women officers. According to the Defence Ministry, SSC women officers will give their option for permanent commission before completion of four years of Commissioned Service and they will exercise the option for grant of PC and their choice of specialisation. Army Mulls Specialized Cadre for Permanent Commission to Women.

"In Indian Navy, all non-sea going branches Cadre/Specialisation have been opened for induction of women officers through Short Service Commission. In addition to education, Law & Naval Constructor branch/cadre, women SSC officers have been made eligible for grant of Permanent Commission in the Naval Armament branch, at par with the male officers," the ministry said. "SSC Women officers will be considered for grant of PC based on suitability, merit etc and will be employed in various staff appointment," it added.

The women officers recruited through the SSC in the Indian Air Force have the option of seeking a permanent commission in all streams except the flying branch. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that a permanent commission would be granted to serving women officers of the armed forces.

"Women officers who have been selected through the Short Service Commission in our defence forces will now have the option to take up permanent commission, PM Modi said during his address from the Red Fort on the Independence day. The three services have allowed permanent recruitment of women in select streams including medical, education, legal, signals, logistics, engineering and several other streams.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 05, 2019 08:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).