Women in Combat Roles – India’s Armed Forces Embrace Inclusion (2025)

India has expanded the roles of women in the Armed Forces, introducing them in the front line and match tasks in services. While historical sanctions have greatly limited their ability to support the roles, recent political changes and legal mandates have opened doors to combat positions and orders for orders. Remarkable milestones were particularly achieved during Operation Sindoor in early 2025, where women actively participated in leadership and fighter roles.

In the Air: From Fighter Jets to Rafales

• Avni Chaturvedi, Bhavana Kanth, and Mohana Singh Jetterwal became India’s first female fighter pilots in 2016, flying jets like MiG-21 and Hawk Trainers
• Especially India’s only woman pilot Shivangi Singh, who participated in the latest strategic missions, and fulfilled the increasing gender integration of the air defence

On the Ground: Army and Border Forces in Combat

• Captain Abhilasha Barak made history in 2022 as the Army’s first woman combat aviator, trained at Nashik’s Combat Army Aviation Training School
• During Operation Sindoor, a team of seven BSF women, defended by assistant commander Neha Bhandari, two anterior positions under heavy Pakistani shelling in Akhnoor, and demonstrated unmatched tenacity along the border.

Legal & Institutional Milestones

• In 2020, a landmark Supreme Court judgment provided a permanent commission (PC) to female officers, who were banned from career development and command ranks for their first male colleagues.
• Highly ranked signaling officer Col. Sophia Qureshi played an important role during Operation Sindoor Orientation and showed extended leadership roles available to women.
• The Supreme Court continues to challenge gender-based selection caps—questioning policies like fixed quotas in JAG branches and reinforcing merit-based inclusion

Current Scope and Limitations

• Women currently serve across all branches—Army, Navy, and Air Force—as officers. However, primary frontline combat roles such as infantry, armored, and mechanized units remain restricted by policy, pending infrastructure and policy reforms
• India’s overall participation rates remain modest: women form approximately 3–6% of Army personnel and 13% in the Air Force; however, recent entry through NDA (since 2022) promises broader inclusion in upcoming years

In the Ranks: Role Models & Leadership

• Group Captain Shaliza Dhami became the first woman to lead an active frontline combat unit in the IAF—setting up new standards for female leadership in aviation
• Across branches, women now serve in critical roles: logistics, signals, intelligence, law, engineering, and more, many receiving parity in command and promotions up to the Colonel level

Why it Matters

1. Gender Equality in Action
   Women now operate combat aircraft, defend border posts under fire, and lead strategic briefings—shattering outdated stereotypes and redefining operational roles.
2. Nation-building Impact
   Empowering women in defense strengthens operational readiness and taps into a wider talent pool. Programs like Sainik School inclusion, NDA entry, and empowerment through permanent commission foster diversity and capability
3. Legal Framework Support
   Supreme Court mandates and evolving recruitment guidelines make certain that women’s participation is now not symbolic, however institutionalized, with identical rights and guidelines.

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• Permanent Women Fighter Pilots | IAF Gender Inclusion 2025
• Female Entries in NDA: Breaking Barriers and Paving the Way
• Efficacy of Women Officers in Indian Army
• NDA Girls Squadron: A New Era in Indian Defence

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Final Thoughts

India is rewriting its narrative on women in defence—from reserved support roles to frontline participation across Air, Army, and Border Forces. While conventional combat arms like infantry continue to be below assessment, ladies have already reclaimed fighter cockpits, aerial command strains, and border defenses. With coverage adjustments, judicial backing, and operational victories, women now stand shoulder-to-shoulder in India’s defence—and are proving they can lead from the front.

FAQs for Women in Combat Roles