Indian Army's Selection Board For Grant Of Permanent Commission To Women Officers Commences Proceedings

Nearly three months after the Ministry of Defence approved the permanent commission for women in Indian Army, the selection board constituted for screening the women officers commenced its proceedings at the Army headquarters on 14 September.

In a statement on Saturday (19 September), the Ministry of Defence said, "The Special No 5 Selection Board constituted to screen Women Officers for grant of Permanent Commission (PC) in Indian Army has commenced it’s proceedings at Army HQ on 14 September 2020".

The board is headed by a Senior General Officer and includes a woman officer of the rank of Brigadier.

In a bid to add transparency to the process, women officers have been permitted to witness the proceedings of the board as observers.

"Women Officers who qualify in the screening process will be granted Permanent Commission subject to being in minimum acceptable medical category," the ministry said.

Earlier in July, the Defence Ministry issued a formal sanction letter to grant the permanent commission to women officers who joined Indian Army through short service commission.

The development came the Supreme Court in February this year had ruled that women officers too are entitled to a permanent commission at par with men in the Army.