Essay – The emerging presence of women in the Indian Armed Forces
The emerging presence of women in the Indian Armed Forces Essay: Women empowerment in India has garnered massive popular support and approval in contemporary Indian society. The contributions of eminent women personalities in India such as Rani Laxmi Bai and Savitribai Phule have been flag bearers of women empowerment historically. The emergence of women and their indelible presence in the Indian Army, Airforce and Navy have brought about a paradigm shift in women’s societal position in general and the country’s defence sector in particular. Women were appointed in the armed forces only in non-combatant roles during the initial years of the army after independence. The contemporary era has witnessed women taking up combat duties as well.
Discussion
The year 1888 marked the emergence of women in the Indian Armed Forces. Women who were incorporated within the army were appointed in the medical departments of ‘Military Nursing Services’ under colonial rule. They played crucial roles in serving the Army in both World Wars. The formation of the Women’s Auxiliary Corps in India produced eminent woman army personnel in the form of Noor Inayat Khan and the Royal Indian Navy received the services of the first woman naval officer, Kalyani Sen.
Despite cherishing the historical prominence of women’s contribution in the Indian Armed Forces, women were inducted in the Army, Air Force and Navy only on Short Service Commission basis in 1992. Accordingly, women were entrusted with the duties of communications, strategic planning and medical reinforcements on limited tenure. In contradiction, their male counterparts were permitted to serve in combatant roles on a Permanent Commission basis that allowed them to hold their positions till their time of retirement. The Indian Air Force made a groundbreaking decision in appointing women in combatant roles such as pilots of fighter jets. ‘Abhilash Barak became the first woman officer to be inducted in the Women’s Aviation Corps in a combatant role. This is a new development for the defence department as the Supreme Court of India had earlier rejected the Union Government’s appeal to grant women Permanent Statuses as their male counterparts. The Women’s Aviation Corps formed in 2021 was a major stride to bringing equal status to women with the Airforce and Navy where women held combatant positions before the army initiated the same. The Army Aviation Corps formed on 1st November 1986 carries out the fundamental task of the evacuation of injured troops during emergencies, border surveillance and strategy making. Hence, the women in Indian Armed Forces have come out of the shadows of background duties of the medical department to work in combatant roles of all three aspects of the forces; Army, Airforce and Navy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Indian Armed Forces have taken major strides in bringing a paradigm shift as far as women’s engagement and participation of the women in the army, airforce and navy are concerned. Women had been inducted into the army since its formal foundation under the authorization of the British Colonial Rule in 1888 in medical services. The armed forces after Independence granted Short Service Commissions to women who had to retire after their stipulated terms. The SSC is replaced with Permanent Commissions for women giving them equal status as their male counterparts.
FAQs
Q1. When were women incorporated into the army?
Ans: The year 1888 marked the emergence of women in the Indian Armed Forces. Women who were incorporated within the army were appointed in the medical departments of ‘Military Nursing Services’ under colonial rule.
Q2. When was the aviation corps founded?
Ans: The Army Aviation Corps formed on 1st November 1986 carries out the fundamental task of the evacuation of injured troops during emergencies, border surveillance and strategy making.