An Equal World

Cdr S. Shrikumar (retd)

Time for the Indian armed forces to induct women into combat roles

In 1999, during the Kargil War, Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena piloted a Cheetah helicopter under enemy fire to evacuate wounded soldiers and deliver critical supplies. Her courage earned her the Shaurya Chakra, shattering stereotypes about women's capabilities in high-stakes military roles. Yet, male chauvinism and societal prejudice continue to diminish such achievements, restricting women's access to combat roles. The full integration of women into combat roles, opposed due to operational, cultural, and societal concerns, remains a contentious issue.

The recent graduation, in June 2025, of the first batch of 17 women cadets from the National Defence Academy (NDA) will serve to accelerate India’s journey toward greater gender inclusivity in its armed forces. The graduation, following decades of debate and incremental policy changes, signals a transformative shift in the Indian military’s approach to women in combat roles.

Societal resistance to accepting women in the armed forces (or indeed in any leadership role) stems from a mix of cultural, social, and institutional factors. Patriarchal norms, deeply rooted in most societies, promote the idea that men are inherently better suited for roles requiring strength, aggression, and decision-making authority. Such biases have contributed to the creation of a self-reinforcing cycle of exclusion that have only recently begun to be upended by evolving gender norms and progressive policy reforms.

Gender stereotypes, often reinforced by religious or philosophical doctrines, portray women as being ruled by their emotions and, as a consequence, being less capable of strategic decision-making or engaging in combat. Also, the popular mythology, in most nations, excludes portrayals of powerful women with rare exceptions such as queen Boudicca of Britain, Rani Rudramma Devi of the Kakatiya dynasty and Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi in India, Joan of Arc in France, and the female warriors known as the Ahosi or ‘Dahomey Amazons’ from the Dahomey Kingdom (present-day Benin in West Africa).

When women excel, their success is often presented as a curiosity, rather than the natural outcome of their ability, industry, and resolve. When new domains—be it science, politics, or the armed forces—are opened to them, it is often framed as a grand gesture, a favour bestowed on them rather than recognising it as their fundamental right.

Institutional barriers too, play a role in entrenching existing societal biases. The traditional structure of the military (designed by men) prioritises physical attributes, undervaluing women’s potential to play a pivotal role in technology-driven modern warfare. Legal restrictions barring women, until very recently, from combat roles also cemented and normalised the exclusion of women.

Women in the Indian Military

The induction of women in India’s military began in 1888, with the establishment of the Indian Military Nursing Service. Even globally, during the Crimean war and World Wars I and II, women served primarily as nurses. The role of women in the Indian and the world’s armed forces has evolved significantly since then. The formation of the Women’s Auxiliary Corps during World War II expanded women’s roles into non-combat domains such as administration and communications. The Azad Hind Fauj, led by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, was a notable exception, with its Rani of Jhansi Regiment allowing women to participate in active combat alongside the imperial Japanese army in Burma.

Post-independence, the Army Act of 1950 allowed women to be inducted but barred them from regular commissions except in specific roles—with the Army Medical Corps becoming the first branch to grant regular commissions to women in 1958. The Nineties marked a turning point, with the introduction of the Women Special Entry Scheme (WSES) in 1992, allowing women to serve as Short Service Commission (SSC) officers in non-combat branches such as education, logistics, law, the core of signals, the corps of engineers, etc. The Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in February 2020, further advanced gender parity by ruling in favour of women’s eligibility for Permanent Commissions (PC) in non-combat support units, placing them on par with male officers.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) led the way in integrating women into combat roles, inducting them as fighter pilots in 2016. The Indian Navy (IN) followed, allowing women to serve as pilots and observers in maritime reconnaissance aircraft (a role considered combat-related). However, the Indian Army (IA) has been more conservative, limiting women to non-combat roles and excluding them from its infantry, artillery, and the armoured units.

The WSES sparked off the Indian Navy’s journey toward greater gender inclusivity when women began being inducted as officers in non-medical roles such as education, law, logistics, and naval architecture. By 2018, women comprised six per cent of the strength of officers in the navy—a modest but growing presence (as against the army’s 3.8 per cent and the air force’s 13.09 per cent). Significant milestones for the navy include sub-lieutenant Shivangi becoming the first woman to pilot a Dornier maritime reconnaissance aircraft in 2019, and Lt Cdr Prerna Deosthalee assuming command of INS Trinkat in December 2023, the first woman to command a naval warship. In 2024, sub-lieutenant Anamika B Rajeev became the first woman naval helicopter pilot, underscoring the navy’s commitment to integrating women fully into all manner of operational roles.

The induction of 273 women as sailors (Agniveers) in March 2023 under the Agnipath scheme further expanded women’s roles, marking the first time women served in non-officer ranks. The successful completion of Navika Sagar Parikrama II, a global circumnavig