A battle within
Women may be marching perfectly in parades but they are still denied the opportunity to serve in combat roles in the Indian Army
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 "Martand Mishra")
 "Members of Agniveervayu, the Air Force's first all-women drill team at the India Gate war memorial in New Delhi on July 26, 2024 (Photo: Reuters)")
Members of Agniveervayu, the Air Force’s first all-women drill team at the India Gate war memorial in New Delhi on July 26, 2024 (Photo: Reuters)
When the Officers Training Academies in Chennai and Gaya held their graduation parades in September, only 48 of the 362 new Army officers—less than 14 per cent — were women. These officers will be permitted to join every regiment of the Indian Army, except for the combat arms — Infantry, Armoured Corps, and Mechanised Infantry. It has been more than three decades since the Indian Army opened its doors to women in 1992, as what was called the Women Special Entry Scheme, for five years, as Short Service Commission (SSC) officers. Yet, it is an internal battle that is
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Martand Mishra
Martand Mishra has started his reporting career with defence coverage. He is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. He enjoys reading books on defence, history and biographies.
 "Martand Mishra")
First Published: Nov 07 2025 | 1:57 PM IST
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