Women officers soon eligible for permanent careers in #IndianArmy branches
What's the story
The Defense Ministry has announced that women inducted as short-service commissioned (SSC) officers will soon be eligible for permanent careers in all the 10 branches of the Indian Army. Permanent commissioning of women officers was, until now, allowed only in two army branches, Judge Advocate General and Army Education Corps. Eight new branches of the army have been opened to women now. Here's more.
Information
Eight branches of the army now opened to women officers
A Defense Ministry spokesperson said that the eight branches of the army now opened to women officers for the permanent commission are Corps of Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Army Air Defense, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordinance Corps, and the Intelligence Corps.
Details
Here's what the Defense Ministry said in a release
"SSC women officers will give their option for permanent commission (PC) before completion of four years of commissioned service...," the Ministry of Defense said in a release. "They will be considered for grant of permanent commission based on suitability, merit, etc. and will be employed in various staff appointments," the Ministry's release added.
Women officers
Opening more avenues to women officers in the armed forces
To open more avenues to women officers in the armed forces, the government took various measures, the first being inducting women in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force; the combat ban was lifted in Oct'15. The Defense Ministry said more avenues for women would also be opened in the navy where all the non-sea going branches/cadre are open to women through SSC.
The Navy
Navy to induct women in all branches after training-ships' induction
"In addition to education, law, and naval constructor branch, women SSC officers have been made eligible for grant of PC in the naval armament branch, on par with the male officers," the Defense Ministry said. It also added the proposal for inducting three new training ships will provide the required infrastructure for training men as well as women officers.