REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN DEFENCE FORCES

New Delhi

December 16, 2009

Women are inducted as officers in the defence forces in specified branches. Women are not inducted as Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR). There is no specified sanctioned strength for women officers in Army, Navy and Air Force. Appointment of women officers has been progressively extended to different branches over a period of time. Permanent Commission has been granted prospectively to Short Service Commission Women officers in specified branches / cadres in Army, Navy and Air Force in September 2008. Measures to improve the intake of officers, including women in the defence forces are a continuous process.

This information was given by Defence Minister AK Antony in written reply to in Parimal Nathwani Rajya Sabha today.