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 said the selection board had cleared the promotion of LT-Col Sangeeta Sardana (Corps of Signals), LT-Col Sonia Anand and LT-Col Navnneet Duggal (electronic corps and mechanical engineers), and LT-Col Reenu Khanna and LT-col Ritcha Sagar (corps engineer) to colonel ranking (time scale).
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 five female officers was the result of the Supreme Court’s order to strong 13-lakh troops last year to end the gender bias and gave a giving permit (PC) commission to female officers in eight existing branches, in addition to the previous legal , which previously exists.
and educational wing.
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 allow women to take the exam for the Tri-Service National Defense Academy this year, in other order to ensure gender equality in the armed forces dominated by men.
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 the inventory of roads to more branches of the army 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 branch, this step defines the Army approach to gender neutral strength,” said the army on Monday .
Eight new branches for female officers to get a PC are army air defense, signals, engineers, army flights, Eme, Corps Service Corps (ASC), corps corps and Army intelligence.
However, officers, still not allowed to join the main combat arms such as infantry, mechanical infantry, artillery and armored corps in the army.
But IAF now 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.