New Delhi, September 26
The government today allowed permanent commission for women in non-combat streams of the armed forces.
Women will be kept out of the combat arms and from duties that could lead to physical contact with the enemy.
The permanent commission has been allowed in the Judge Advocate General branch, Army Education Corps, accounts branch of the Air Force and the Naval Constructor. More streams may be opened up for them at a latter stage.
At present, women are taken only in Short Service Commission for a period of 14 years.
The order issued today by the ministry of defence said: "The government has decided to grant permanent commission, prospectively to short service commission officers, cadres of the three services, which do not entail direct combat or possibility of physical contact with enemy.''
The selection will be based on a common merit and eligibility criteria, which would be decided by each service headquarters.
At present, in short service, there are 1,072 women officers in the Army. In the Air Force, women are eligible to fill all vacancies in branches of ground duty and transport and helicopter streams of the flying branches. The current strength of women officers in IAF, including medical services, is 793. Of these, 63 are from the flying branch, 132 from the technical branch.
In the Navy, there are 258 women officers.
