Special 17: First batch of women cadets set to pass out of NDA

The first group of 17 women cadets is due to graduate from NDA on May 30, 2025, representing a big step forward for India's armed forces. During their training which took three years, they learned and worked alongside some 300 males, growing socially and gaining strong expertise in leading. They spoke about how NDA helped them solve difficulties and gave a fair chance to everyone to participate. 

Context

• A batch of 17 women cadets will become the first female graduates from the National Defence Academy on May 30, breaking new ground for the Indian Armed Forces. 

• With the same training as men, these women learn to change, become strong leaders, and show resilience. 

Women in the Armed Forces

Background:

• Eight women fly MiG-21, Su-30MKI, and Rafale aircraft for the Indian Air Force since they began being inducted in 2016.

• Women are being assigned to lead Army units in different arms and services, including Engineers, Signals, Air Defence, Intelligence, Service Corps, Ordnance Corps and Mechanical Engineers.

• In January 2023, Shiva Chouhan was made the first woman officer to work on the Siachen Glacier.

• This February, women officers started being appointed to lead branch units outside the medical field and around 50 are scheduled to command units in the challenging Northern and Eastern Ground Commands.

• For the first time, the Navy is allowing women officers to serve on ships that were once off-limits to them.

• A large number of women officers take on challenges in field duties and sensitive roles.

Current Statistics:

• More than 10,493 women in the armed forces are officers, the majority of them working in medical services.

• The Indian Army now has 1,705 women officers (most) among all services.

• 1,640 women officers form part of the Indian Air Force.

• The Indian Navy has 559 women officers.

About Gender Equality

Global Perspective:

• The UN Secretary-General believes gender equality is moving further out of reach and UN Women calculates that progress is now so slow it could take three centuries.

• Legal obstacles are stopping 2.7 billion women from holding the same jobs as men.

• Women made up just under 25% of all parliamentary seats globally in 2019.

• Across the world, one in three women experiences gender-based violence.

India-Specific Challenges:

• In December 2021, women made up only 9.4% of the labour force, while men’s share was much bigger at 67.4% (CMIE data).

• The World Bank projects that India’s female LFPR is only 25%, as opposed to a global level of 47%.

• While India was ranked 135th on the Global Gender Gap Index (2022), recent switch in ranking methods may help it earn a higher position.

• Members of the Lok Sabha are only 14.44% women.

• About 95% of working women currently work in informal roles that are unsecured and insufficiently rewarded (ILO, 2018).

Challenges Women Face in the Armed Forces

• Societal Issues:

  • The vast majority of regional police officers who are male typically dislike being led by women.

  • Stigma still affects women soldiers who have been prisoners of war

• Physiological Challenges:

  • Because of pregnancy, childbirth, and caring for their family, women face obstacles created by time away from work.

  • Dual-service couples are presented with the problem of balancing family tasks and their careers.

• Family Issues:

  • Often, having to move and be apart for long periods affects children’s development and career choices for spouses.

  • When a woman has a career in the military, the sacrifice and commitment of her family often raise the pressures she must manage.

Conclusion 

Indian women in the military have gone far, now serving in combat and leadership roles. Even though women have more opportunities than before, they often face opposition in society, difficult physical challenges and problems related to family. This demonstrates that in both India and worldwide, gender inequality continues, so significant changes should be made to guarantee women are justly represented and cared for in the defense sector.