In what could come as an encouraging hand for women aspiring to joining the Indian military as a time when the Indian Army is undergoing a historic transformative phase, President Droupadi Murmu added another dimension by expressing her happiness by pointing out that the Indian defence forces have gone beyond their operational role by remaining a pillar of national development.
Pitching for more inclusiveness while addressing the third edition of the Chanakya Defence Dialogue at the national capital’s iconic Manekshaw Centre, the President in her short speech said: “The expansion of the contribution of young women officers and soldiers, both in role and character, would promote the spirit of inclusion. It will also inspire more young women to join the Indian Army and take up other professions”.
“I am happy to note that the Army is transforming itself through quantifiable deliverables under the Decade of Transformation. It is reforming structures, re-orienting doctrines and redefining capabilities to be future-ready and mission-capable across all domains.”
President Murmu’s assertion comes at a time women officers in the Indian Army are already creating a mark with about 55 per cent of the selected women officers already commanding units deployed in field and operational areas of whom about 50 per cent were in the Northern and Eastern Commands, the most volatile of the seven Indian Army commands.
In 2023, the total number of women officers in the Indian Army (excluding the Army Medical Corps, the Army Dental Corps and the Military Nursing Service, stood at 1,733. While still an impressive figure, it pales when compared with the 53,000 officers in the about 13 lakh strong force.
Appreciating the role of the armed forces in the recent military conflict with Pakistan, the President said the success of Operation Sindoor stands as a defining moment in our counter-terror and deterrence strategy. “The world took note not only of India’s military capability but of India’s moral clarity to act firmly, yet responsibly in the pursuit of peace”.
In his address, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi outlined a “set of springboards” that will drive the Indian Army's transformation in the years ahead. The four “springboards”, the chief pointed out are self-reliance and empowerment through indigenisation, accelerated innovations, adaptation and reforming the ecosystem, and finally, military civil fusion.