WOMEN OFFICERS IN ARMY
1. Context
For the first time, women officers will be able to command troops in the Indian Army, and be assessed for their leadership skills.As many as 108 women officers in the Army are set to be cleared for the rank of Colonel (selection grade) by January 22 by a special selection board, which will make them eligible to command units and troops in their respective arms and services for the first time.
2. Women in Indian Armed Forces
- The Army, being the largest of the three services, has the largest number of women officers at 1,705 followed by 1,640 women officers in the IAF, and 559 in the Navy. This data was submitted by the government to Parliament last year.
- Women officers have been inducted into all branches of the Navy, and they will be eligible for permanent commission in the future.
- Women officers can command shore-based units and, as they join the service and become eligible for permanent commission, they would be able to command ships and air squadrons.
- The IAF has opened all branches for women officers, including the fighter stream and the new weapon systems branch.
- As they are granted permanent commission based on eligibility and vacancies, they will be eligible to command units in the future.
- All major countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, and Israel, allow women in command positions of their national armed forces.
3. Why is it Important?
- About 108 women officers in the Army were cleared for the rank of Colonel by a special selection board, this will make them eligible to command units and troops in their respective arms and services.
- It will grant women officers parity with their male counterparts.
- Now with a long career in the Army, women officers will be considered for promotions, including to the rank of Colonel and beyond.
- Earlier only two branches; the Judge Advocate General (JAG) branch and the Army Education Corps granted permanent commissions to women in 2008.
- In 2020, the Supreme Court’s order to grant permanent commissions to women Army officers opened the doors for promotion to women officers across all streams of the Army, except pure combat arms.
4. Why did their Colonel promotions come so late?
- An officer in the Army is promoted to the rank of Colonel only after serving between 16 and 18 years, based on certain criteria such as annual confidential reports and various courses.
- Women officers who were inducted into the Army were inducted as Short Service Commission (SSC) officers in 1992 and in the years after did not have the choice to opt for permanent commission.
- JAG and Army Education Corps were exceptions, where a permanent commission was opened for them in 2008.
- For other arms and services, women could not become permanent cadre, and had to retire much before they completed the service period that is mandatory to become a Colonel.
5. Supreme Court Orders in 2020
- In 2019, the Army changed its rules allowing SSC women officers to opt for permanent commission who would have otherwise retired after 14 years of service.
- However, this was not retrospective, and applied only to the batches of women officers starting their career in the Army in 2020.
- With the landmark Supreme Court judgment of February 2020, permanent commission was granted to women officers with retrospective effect.
- This opened the doors for their further growth and promotions in the Army, which has been of late opening leadership and higher management courses for women.
6. What is a Commanding Unit Mean?
Once promoted to a Colonel, an officer is eligible to command troops directly in the Army, which is an acknowledgment of the leadership qualities of the officer.
It is considered a coveted appointment because in no other rank- including higher ranks like Brigadier or Major General -does an officer interact directly with troops on the ground.
7. women officers in commanding units
- Women officers in many streams of the Army, including the Army Air Defence, Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, and Intelligence Corps will be commanding units.
- They are still not eligible in core combat arms such as Infantry, Mechanised Infantry and Armoured Corps, as the Army is not open to women fighting wars at the borders as foot soldiers.
- Much of this resistance stems from past instances of male soldiers being taken as prisoners of war and tortured by the enemy.
For Prelims & Mains
For Prelims: Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Judge Advocate General (JAG), Supreme Court, Commanding Unit, and Short Service Commission (SSC).
For Mains: 1. Women officers will be able to command troops in the Indian Army, and be assessed for their leadership skills.Discuss?
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Source: The Indian Express