Women in uniform: Breaking barriers, marching forward
The long journey of Indian women towards combat roles
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 "Veenu Sandhu")
 "Women operating communication systems, as part of the civilian exchange with the Indian Army's Signal Corps, in 1952 (Photo: Ministry of Defence)")
Women operating communication systems, as part of the civilian exchange with the Indian Army’s Signal Corps, in 1952 (Photo: Ministry of Defence)
On September 6, the Officers Training Academy in Chennai, established after the China-India war of 1962, saw another batch of freshly minted cadets earn their pips. Among the 155 officer cadets commissioned into the Indian Army were 25 women. During their graduation parade at the Parameswaran Drill Square, they marched on a trail blazed by an army of women before them — those who had not only donned the olive green but had also fought for women’s right to permanent commission rather than a short-service stint capped at 14 years. Their right to wear the uniform for as long
Written By
Veenu Sandhu
Veenu Sandhu is Senior Associate Editor at Business Standard. Based in New Delhi, she has been a journalist since 1996, and has worked in some of India’s leading newsrooms across print, digital and television media, including NDTV 24x7, Hindustan Times and The Indian Express. At Business Standard, she writes, commissions, edits and gives direction to special, in-depth articles for the newspaper and the digital platform across beats and sectors. She also hosts video shows for Business Standard. Before this, she edited BS Weekend. She is a 2017-18 batch Chevening South Asia Journalism fellow.
 "Veenu Sandhu")
First Published: Oct 06 2025 | 1:55 PM IST
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