Topic: Role of women and women’s organization,
3. Gender equality in the armed forces remains a distant dream as policy makers tread carefully and prefer a status quoist approach rather than to undertake reform. Analyse. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued an interim order allowing women candidates to take the National Defence Academy examination, scheduled to be held on September 5, while questioning why “co-education is a problem” in the Armed Forces.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the attempts at achieving gender parity in Indian armed forces and the reasons for reluctant approach by the policy makers towards it.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context of recent interim judgement of the Supreme Court (SC) – yet another attempt at introducing gender parity by the apex court in the armed forces.
Body:
Mention that the position of women in the armed forces, offers a limited window for any kind of change in the role of women in occupational and bureaucratic structures. However, there are changes being witnessed but at a slow pace.
Next, write about as to how the attempts at reform have been through litigation and by the orders of the SC. Mention the Babita Puniya case and the observations of the court in that regard.
Write about the reluctance of policy makers in this situation and their preference to maintain the status quo and their reasons, thereof.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced way forward.
