Rajeev Chandrasekhar's official website - Member of Parliament

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry Of Defence
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 907
TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2016
Women Officers in the Army

907. Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether Government has assessed the requirement of women officers in the Army since 1992 when the doors were first opened for their induction;

(b) if so, the details thereof, and, if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) what is the total number of women in the Army; and

(d) whether there is a shortage of women officers in the Army and the details thereof?

Answer
MINISTER OF DEFENCE
SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR

(a) & (b): The induction of Women Officers is based on the organizational requirement, fighting efficiency, combat effectiveness and functionality of the Army. There has been a progressive enhancement in the induction of women in the Army since 1992.

Initially, women were inducted in Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Army Education Corps and Judge Advocate General Branch. In 1996, Engineers, Signals, Intelligence and Electrical & Mechanical Engineering branches were opened for Women. Subsequently, two more Branches were opened viz. Aviation and Air Defence.

Since September 2008, Women Officers are eligible for grant of Permanent Commission (PC) in Army Education Corps and Judge Advocate General Department.

(c) The total number of women officers in the Army (excluding Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps and Military Nursing Service), as on 01.04.2016, is 1514.

(d) Women are inducted as Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) alongwith men SSCOs in Army within the overall authorized strength of the officers’ cadre. As such, the question of shortage of women officers in the Army does not arise.

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