Breaking The Overseas Barriers: India To Now Post Women Officers As Defence Attaches Abroad For First Time Ever

India is on track to soon send its first batch of women officers as defence attaches to overseas missions with the government asking the three Services to identify women officers who are qualified to take up these assignments, reports Times Of India (TOI).

Women officers are expected to be posted to missions in America and Europe as soon as on the next "rotation.”

The decision to induct women officers into the coveted foreign postings was taken earlier this year (2019) and was piloted by Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman. It was observed that though women had occupied many distinguished positions as ambassadors, diplomats, even foreign secretaries in the past, they were seldom found among defence attaches.

The importance of these attaches cannot be overstated as they provide greater depth to India's evolving defence and security engagements. Defence diplomacy is a significant component of India's diplomatic apparatus with key international players.

Not Coming Short Anymore

In a landmark decision, the ministry of defence (MoD) on 5 March approved the grant of Permanent Commission to women officers in the Indian armed forces. This follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on the same in his Independence Day speech on 15 August 2018.

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