The future of women in the Indian Army is promising, as there have been significant
advancements in recent years to ensure gender parity and inclusivity in the armed forces.
However, there are still challenges and obstacles that women face, which need to be
addressed.
Some of the pros of having women in the Indian Army are:
Diversification: Women bring diversity to the armed forces and can contribute their unique
skills, knowledge, and perspectives to the team.
Better representation: Including women in the army allows for better representation of the
entire population, regardless of gender.
Better recruitment: Allowing women to serve in the army increases the pool of potential
recruits, which can help the armed forces to maintain their required strength.
Boost in morale: Women in the army boost the morale of other female soldiers and inspire
young girls to consider careers in the armed forces.
Some of the cons of having women in the Indian Army are:
Physical challenges: The army requires rigorous physical training, which can be a challenge
for some women due to their biological differences.
Family responsibilities: Women may have to juggle family responsibilities, which can be
challenging when serving in the army.
Inadequate infrastructure: There may be inadequate infrastructure to support women in the
army, such as lack of separate accommodation and sanitation facilities.
Despite these challenges, there have been many women in the Indian Army who have
accomplished extraordinary feats.
Some of the famous women in the army who have achieved great things are:
Captain Tania Shergill: She was the first woman to lead an all-male contingent in the
Republic Day parade in 2020.
Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth: She became the first woman fighter pilot to participate in
the Republic Day parade in 2021.
Major Mitali Madhumita: She led an all-women contingent of the Indian Army at the Army
Day parade in 2021.
Lieutenant Colonel Sophia Qureshi: She was the first woman to command a male infantry
battalion in the Indian Army.
Captain Shikha Surabhi: She led an Indian Army mountaineering expedition to Mount
Everest in 2019.
