Question : WOMEN OFFICERS IN ARMY

(a) the number of women officers in the Army as on date;

(b) the number of officers to retire after completion of 14 years of service;

(c) the duration of service they are allowed to render as compared to men officers;

(d) whether both women and men are allowed to join under Short Service Commission;

(e) whether women officers serving in the Army are entitled to the same benefits as compared to men officers;

(f) whether women officers are assigned to all units of the Army; and

(g) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF DEFENCE(SHRI A.K. ANTONY)

(a) to (g): A Statement is attached.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2796 FOR ANSWER ON 15.3.2010.

The present strength of women officers is 1012 in the Army (excluding Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps and Military Nursing Service). 12 women officers in the Army are due to retire in 2010 after 14 years of service. As per the present policy, the tenure of both women and men Short Service Commissioned Officers is 10 years extendable upto 14 years. Both women and men are inducted in the Short Service Commission in the Army. Women officers serving in the Army are entitled to the same benefits as available to similarly placed men officers. However,women SSC officers are not eligible for being considered for grant of Permanent Commission in all Branches.Permanent Commission to SSC (Women) officers have been granted prospectively in Judge Advocate General (JAG) Department and Army Education Corps (AEC) of Army.Women officers in the Indian Army are not assigned to the Combat Arms.A study carried out by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff in 2006 on all aspects of employment of women officers in the armed forces, recommended exclusion of women officers from close combat roles.