Ajit Karn
New Delhi: According to information provided by the government in Lok Sabha on Friday, over 7000 women are currently serving in the Indian Army, followed by 1,636 in the Indian Air Force and 748 in the Indian Navy.
In response to a query, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt stated that there are 7,093 women serving in the Army, with 6,993 serving in the Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps, and Military Nursing Service. (MNS). A total of 100 women serve in other categories.
Mr. Bhatt stated that, as of 1 March (excluding medical and dental disciplines), there are 1,636 women serving in the officer’s cadre of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
“As of today, women hold the status of officer in the United States Navy. As of March 9, 748 women officers, including medical and dental officers, serve in the Indian Navy, he stated. Bhatt stated that employment in the Indian armed forces is egalitarian. “In the arms and services in which they serve, there is no difference between the deployment and working conditions of male and female soldiers,” he said.
“Appointments are based on organisational requirements, and employment is based on qualifications and quality of service requirements,” he explained.
In reference to the Army, the minister stated that a gender-neutral career progression policy encompassing employment and promotion aspects was mandated on November 23, 2021, granting women officers equal opportunities.
Regarding the IAF, he stated that female officers are permitted to occupy important positions, including commanding officers, in combat units and other field units.
“The applicable standards are gender-neutral and afford both genders equal opportunities. Prior to their effective utilization, their physical health and medical conditions are also considered,” he explained.
Bhatt stated that officers are given gender-neutral options for spousal co-location, re-settlement posting, and compassionate grounds posting in relation to the employment of women in the Navy.
In response to a separate query, he stated that the Ministry of Defense is examining a proposal to establish a permanent Defense Modernization Fund (DMF).
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“The DMF will be available for modernization of the defence forces and would supplement the regular annual budgetary allocations by removing any uncertainty in the provision of adequate funds for various defence capability development and infrastructure projects,” he said.
“In consultation with the Ministry of Finance, a suitable mechanism for operationalizing the fund is being developed,” he said.
Diverse parliamentary committees had also advocated for the establishment of the DMF so that unused budgetary allotments for the three services could be retained even after the end of the financial year.
