/RAJYA SABHA/
The present strength of women officers in Army, Air Force and Navy is as under:
| Army | Air Force | Navy |
| 4101* | 784* | 252* |
* Including Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps and Military Nursing Services.
The women officers are appointed both in Short Service and Permanent Commissions in the Medical, Nursing and Dental Services. In these Services, Short Service Commission (SSC) women officers are also eligible for Permanent Commission. The women officers are also appointed as SSC officers in some select branches in the three Defence Forces. However, they are not made eligible for grant of Permanent Commission in other Arms and Services. Women officers are treated at par with similarly placed male counterparts in terms of recruitment, training, tenure of service, promotion etc.
The induction of women officers in the three Services started in 1992. Appointment of women officers has been progressively extended to different Arms/Services in the three services. They are, however, not being commissioned into close combat Arms in the Army. In the Air Force, women are being inducted in all bombatant streams except fighter stream. In the Navy, there have been restrictions in employing women officers to onboard ships and submarines. The issues of combat employability and grant of permanent commission are interlinked. Due to the existing combat employability restrictions, Permanent Commission to women officers could not be considered.
A study carried out by the Services on the issue has recommended that women officers be excluded from induction in close combat Arms where chances of physical contact with enemy are high. The study has concluded that it is essential to obtain feedback on their performance based on revised pre-commission training (from 24 weeks to 49 weeks), detailment on courses such as junior command course and assessment of their performance as sub-unit commanders especially in field areas; for holding higher ranks and grant of Permanent Commission. In the light of the above, grant of Permanent Commission to women has not been recommended presently.
This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri A K Antony in a written reply to Smt. Hema Malini in Rajya Sabha today.
Samir/VK