New Delhi: The Defence Ministry informed that so far no woman could break through and made it to Special Forces of the armed forces, an elite force that is deployed for nation’s critical and secretive tasks.
While replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, junior defence minister Ajay Bhatt informed that the female officers can join the elite forces after going through due selection process and extensive training that is required for anyone to be included in Special Forces.
He mentioned that female officers are allowed to volunteer “without gender bias.” The minister said two women officers had volunteered so far in IAF for the Special training but they could not pass the mandatory training.
Menahwhile in the Navy, 20 Agniveer (sailor) attended the aptitude test but they too could not qualify the same.
It should be noted that the Navy has Marine Commandos, IAF has Guard Commando Force and the Army has the Para-special Forces.
These units are deployed at times of counter-terrorism, surgical strike, intelligence gathering, hostage-rescue, anti-hijack and covert operations like going behind the enemies.
Personnel in these forces are highly trained and given specialized weapons.
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Women not allowed at battlefield but can join infantry
It is worth noting that India does not allow women in the main battlefied but they can still join Army like infantry, the armoured corps and the mechanized Army. Though woman are not allowed on combat field yet but it is remarkable to note that they have come a long way when inducting woman in Army was a joke to many.
Woman started to be inducted in Army as officers started in early-1990s and now they can achieve the rank of “Agniveer.”
With the doors opened for women to work for the nation, their representation has significantly increased. As of now, there are over 145 women helicopter and transport aircraft pilots in the IAF, Army and Navy.
To fly fighters MiG-29s, Sukhoi-30MKIs and MiG-21s along with the new Rafales in Indian Army, India has 18 women officers. Meanwhile, nearly 30 women officers deployed on frontline warships currently in the Navy.
In early 2023, India commissioned five women officers for the first time into the artillery regiments who are now undergoing training to handle howitzers and rocket systems
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