Indian Army looking at enhancing women's role

The Indian Army is finalising a plan to grant permanent commission (PC) to women and expanding their role by deploying them in various fields, sources said.

A special cadre for induction of women is on the cards.

The permanent commission to women is being considered for a number of segments including cyber and IT, corps of military police and various posts in service selection board.

The Indian Army has still not deployed women in combat roles. Few countries Germany, Australia, Canada, USA, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, Sweden and Israel do so.

Meanwhile, speaking at an event, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government was open to women recruited under short service commissioning being offered permanent commissioning, adding that currently, there was no parity between the armed forces in recruitment rules as related to women.

"There are different approaches which are prevailing. I am spending quite sometime with all the three forces to make sure that we take a synchronised position and also approach the court to handle all these casesalready there about short service (commission) women being offered permanent commission," she said.