Permanent Women Fighter Pilots | IAF Gender Inclusion 2025

Overview

• India’s Ministry of Defence officially converted the experimental scheme for the induction of women fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force into a permanent programme in early 2022
• This transformation recognized the success of women pilots and solidified their role in combat aviation as a permanent fixture of IAF policy

Timeline of Key Milestones

Year	Milestone
2015	Government approves women in the IAF fighter stream on an experimental basis
2016	First batch of three women pilots (Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth, Mohana Singh Jitarwal) commissioned to fighter stream
2019–2020	Over 16 women pilots commissioned in fighter stream; women begin to earn permanent commissions and undertake operational combat roles
February 2022	Defence Minister Rajnath Singh affirms scheme becomes permanent: “No longer an experiment”
March 2025	Flying Officer Tanushka Singh becomes first woman pilot permanently inducted into the IAF’s Jaguar squadron, the first such assignment in combat Jaguar jets .

Pioneers in the Fighter Stream

• Avani Chaturvedi: First Indian woman to solo fly a MiG-21 and take part in aerial wargames in foreign places (Japan)
• Bhawana Kanth: Qualified for combat missions in May 2019; one of the original three inducted pilots
• Mohana Singh Jitarwal: Flies MiG‑21 and becomes one of the first female pilots to operate HAL Tejas fighter jet
• Tanushka Singh: As of March 2025, the first woman permanently assigned to a Jaguar strike aircraft squadron, marking India’s first such combat assignment for a woman pilot

Why This Marks a Historic Shift

1. Permanent Career Path
   The move removes the “short-term experiment” tag—women can now pursue long-term, combat flying careers in the IAF.
2. Expanded Opportunities
   Encourages broader recruitment and education for ladies throughout superior fighter jets like Rafale, Su 30 MKI, MiG 21, and now Jaguar
3. Operational Milestone
   Officers such as Tanushka Singh illustrate that women are now fully integrated into frontline strike squadrons.
4. Gender Equality in Defence
   Demonstrates India’s dedication to empowering women and dismantling conventional boundaries in the fight for aviation roles.

Supporting Facts: Top Quotes & Statements

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh: “What began as an experiment in 2016 has become a permanent feature by 2022.”
• Over 16 women fighter pilots had been commissioned into the IAF since 2016 under the scheme before its permanent conversion
• Gender inclusion extended: women now hold permanent commissions in branches and have flown Rafale, Su‑30, MiG‑21, and now Jaguar, cementing sustained inclusion

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Conclusion

Permanent induction of female fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force is a historical performance in 2022-2025. A change in a stable, long-lasting program from experimental intake allows women to serve in the most advanced fighter planes and in the roles of the front line. Tanushka Singh’s appearance on the front line, with permanent assignments for the Jaguar Squadron in 2025, has been heavily wrapped.

This change improves national security by expanding the expertise pool and substantiates India’s commitment to gender equality and authority in defence forces.

FAQs about Permanent Women Fighter Pilots