"Yes, Sir", the government has a plan to increase the number of women in the Indian Army, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday while responding to a query of a member.
Informing about the major initiatives, the Minister said 20 vacancies for Women Army cadets per year have been allotted in National Defence Academy, Pune with effect from July 2022.
He said that Short Service Commission has 90 vacancies for women including 10 additional vacancies increased with effect from June 2023.
However, Mr Bhatt said, approval has been given, since March 2023 for the induction of women officers into Artillery units as well as Remount and Veterinary Corps.
He said the entry of women officers as pilots in Army Aviation commenced with effect from
June 2021, and the enrolment of women in other ranks in the Corps of Military Police in the Indian Army commenced in 2019.
As per the Minister, the total number of women in Indian Army medical cadres, as on July 1, 2023, is 1,212 in Army Medical Corps (AMC); 168 in Army Dental Corps (ADC); 3,841 in Military Nursing Service (MNS).
He also added that the total number of women officers in the Indian Army (excluding AMC, ADC and MNS) as on January 1, 2023 is 1,733.
Mr Bhatt was responding to the query of CPI MP Sandosh Kumar P when he asked about the number of women in Indian Army medical and non-medical cadres; and the government's plan to increase the number of women in the Indian Army.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
In First, Russia Fires Intercontinental Ballistic Missile At Ukraine
Indian Army Chief Bestowed With Rank Of Honourary General Of Nepalese Army Soldier Killed In Action, 3 More Injured During Encounter In J&K Applications Invited From Unmarried Law Graduates In Indian Army For Judge Advocate "Thousand Times Better...": Delhi Lt Governor's Surprise For AAP's Atishi "Violation Of Sovereignty, Abuse Of Power": Kanwal Sibal On US Report On Adani Group "World War 3 Has Begun": Ukraine Ex-Military Commander Amid Russia Conflict Bastar Will Be Maoist-Free Very Soon, Says Chhattisgarh Minister Arun Sao Petrol Pump Owner, Son Shot At Over Bill In UP's Kaushambi: Police Indian Researchers Find Method To Decode Monkeypox Virus, Aid Diagnostics Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.