New Delhi: Five female officers from “battle supporting arms” for the first time have been cleaned for promotion to the rank of Colonel (time scale) in the army after completing 26 years of service such as their male colleagues.
The army on Monday cleared the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel Sangeeta Sardana (Sinar Signal), Sonia Anand and Navneet Duggal (electronic corps and mechanical engineers), and Reenu Khanna and Ritcha Sagar (corps engineer) to Colonel (time scale)) rank.
An officer became a colonel “selection class” in about 15-17 years.
Male officers “passed” to Colonel (time scale) after completing 26 years of service.
The promotion of the five female officers was the result of the Supreme Court’s command to the 13-lakh strong forces last year to end the gender bias and gave a permanent commission (PC) to female officers at eight branches again, in addition to previous laws and educational wings.
As a result, the army is now given a 424 PC from 615 short commission (SSC) female officers (which can only serve a maximum of 14 years) who qualify for it.
The Supreme Court has last week also allows women to take the exam for the Tri-Service National Defense Academy this year.
Women’s officers, excluding medical flow, only around 1,650 in the 43,000 officer cadres were strong in the Army.
Until now, female officers can reach Colonel’s rank only in medical, law and education.
“Widening of promotional roads to more branches of troops is a sign of an increase in career opportunities for female officers.
Combined with the decision to provide a PC to female officers from the majority of the army branches, this step defines the army approach to a gender-neutral power,” said the army on the day Monday.
Eight new branches for female officers to get a PC are army air defenses, signals, engineers, army flights, Eme, Corps Service Corps (ASC), Corps Ordnance and Intelligence Corps.
However, it is still not allowed in the main battle.
Weapons such as infantry, mechanical infantry, artillery and armored corps in troops.
But IAF has 12 female combat pilots.
The navy earlier this year also deployed four female officers about warships for the first time after the 23-year-old gap.