In a first, Govt approves induction of women officers in Artillery

New Delhi: In a major decision to boost women's participation in the armed forces, the Union Government has given its nod to the induction of women officers in the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.

As per the information given by the Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt in the Lok Sabha on March 31, the decision to induct women officers in the Artillery was taken on March 20.

In a parliamentary question, Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt, an MP from the ruling BJP,  had asked about the government decision to include women in the Artillery units and the steps taken in that regard so far.

In one line reply, the Minister said, the Government has approved the induction of women in the Regiment of Artillery on March 20, 2023.

In January 2023, General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff, announced that a proposal to induct women officers in the Regiment of Artillery had been sent to the government. He said at the time that gender empowerment in the Army is a focus area and that women are expected to do very well in the Artillery.

As of now, Permanent Commissioning is granted to Women Officers in 11 Arms & Services (in addition to Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps and Military Nursing Service). They are Army Service Corps (ASC), Army Ordnance Corps (AOC), Army Education Corps (AEC), Judge Advocate General Branch (JAG Br), Corps of Engineers (ENGRS), Corps of Signals (SIGS), Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), Intelligence Corps (Int Corps), Army Air Defence (AAD), Army Aviation, Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC).

The Regiment of Artillery is the second largest Arms of the Indian Army, and constitutes its formidable operational arm. The firepower of Artillery with its missiles, guns, mortars, rocket launchers and unmanned aerial vehicles packs a lethal punch and makes it an 'Arm of Decision'.

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