Madam Raksha Mantri

Nirmala Sitharaman became the first full-time Defence Minster on Sunday, adding to the list of 15 other women holding the critical portfolio in their respective countries.

Sitharaman was a surprise pick as Defence Minister; she takes over from Arun Jaitley, who had been handling the portfolio for five months, along with the Finance Ministry, after Manohar Parrikar was sent to Goa to be its chief minister in March.

Indira Gandhi held additional charge of the Defence Ministry twice – once when was the Prime Minister in 1975, and then between 1980 and 1982.

This will also be the first time when the all important Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) will have two women — External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is the other member. The CCS is headed by the Prime Minister and comprises Ministers of Home, Finance, Defence and External Affairs.

Sitharaman called the move “cosmic grace” and credited the support of party leadership that for her new role. “I am overwhelmed and humbled and I can serve the country with something which is constantly on the top of my mind,” she said.

Till now, she was the Minister of State for Commerce. Sitharaman will now have to address the call for a larger role for women in the armed forces.

OTHER WOMEN IN COMMAND

• María Dolores de Cospedal: Spain
   
• Andreja Kati: Slovenia
   
• Marise Payne: Australia
   
• Mimi Kodheli: Albania
   
• Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide: Norway
   
• Ursula von der Leyen: Germany
   
• Roberta Pinotti: Italy
   
• Martha Elena Ruiz Sevilla: Nicaragua
   
• Raychelle Omamo: Kenya
   
• Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert: Netherlands
   
• Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula: South Africa