Indian Army Gender-Inclusive Recruitment

In a groundbreaking move, the Indian Army is contemplating the inclusion of women in various non-combat roles within its ranks under the Agnipath scheme. This proposal, currently under consideration at the highest levels of the Army, is expected to receive a final decision from the Ministry of Defence within the next three to five months.

Traditionally, the Indian Army has only recruited women officers for positions in its services and combat support streams. However, this new initiative seeks to expand women’s participation across a wider spectrum of roles within the organization.

While women have previously been inducted as other ranks (OR) within the military police, this proposal aims to extend their inclusion to other service and combat support streams. Notably, the combat arms of the Army, including the Infantry, Armoured Corps, and Mechanised Infantry, have remained exclusively male domains. In contrast, the Indian Navy and Air Force have already opened up all avenues for women’s participation.

The impetus for this change is driven by the Indian government’s commitment to increasing women’s representation in various sectors. The Army’s goal is to evolve into a gender-agnostic force, aligning with the broader national policy on gender equality and empowerment.

This progressive shift in military recruitment began in 2019 when the government approved the induction of women into the military police. This move aimed to have 1,700 women soldiers inducted by 2036 in batches of 100 recruits each year. They were primarily tasked with investigating offenses such as rape, molestation, and theft, as well as assisting with evacuation during hostilities, crowd control, and search operations.

In 2022, the Army expanded its recruitment of women in the military police through the Agnipath scheme. This change aligns with the Army’s role in contributing to UN Peacekeeping missions, which often require a certain percentage of women personnel. Notably, India deployed its largest-ever contingent of women soldiers for UN Peacekeeping Operations in the Abyei region of Africa earlier this year.

The Indian Navy and Air Force have also embraced similar inclusive recruitment schemes. The Navy recruited women sailors for warship deployment, and the Air Force announced plans to induct 10% women under the Agniveer scheme, which started in 2022.

This move signifies a significant step towards gender equality within the Indian military, aligning with global efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in armed forces.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Print