Context: The defence minister informed the Parliamentary Consultative Committee that increasing women’s participation in the armed forces remains a national priority.
About Women in Armed Forces:
- The Indian Armed Forces are progressively expanding the inclusion of women in combat, technical, and leadership roles across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
- Current Data (2024):
- Army: 1,735 women (6.85%)
- Air Force: 1,614 women (13.4%)
- Navy: 674 women (6%)
- Trend Since 2005:
- Army: up from 767 (2005) to 1,735 (2024)
- Air Force: up from 574 to 1,614
- Navy: up from 154 to 674
- Branch Access:
- Army: Women can join 12 branches including combat roles.
- Navy: All branches except submarines are open.
- Air Force: All branches open, including fighter pilots.
- Role Models: Officers like Col. Sofiya Qureshi (Army) and Wing Cmdr. Vyomika Singh (Air Force) exemplify women’s leadership in key operations like Operation Sindoor.
Relevance to UPSC Syllabus:
- GS Paper II (Governance & Social Justice):
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections: Women’s representation in institutions of national importance.
- Role of Civil Services and Defence Services: Gender sensitisation and inclusion in state services.
- GS Paper I (Society):
- Women empowerment and gender roles: Challenges to patriarchal structures within uniformed services.
- Essay Paper & Ethics (GS-IV):
- Themes of equality, justice, and institutional reforms.
- Role-model based case studies on courage and integrity
