WOMEN IN THE ARMED FORCES: MVI DEBATE
- MVI Desk
- 12 minutes ago
- 20 min read
EDITOR'S NOTE
This article by Capt Shikha Saxena published by MVI on 28 Jan 2026 (link given below) drew some spontaneous responses from our seasoned and learned veterans, that would clear many widespread misconceptions.
However, various shortcomings in the system led to legal implications leading to the women officers approaching the Supreme Court for justice. The entire debate is being published to enhance the reader-awareness on women entry into the Armed Forces comprising various linked issues, including future plans.
Kindly circulate/fwd it to the interested readers and groups, and comments on this debate if any, may please be given on MVI website at the end of this article, where a provision exists for the same.
Regards and thanks.
Col Vinay B Dalvi,
Editor, MVI
RESPONSES FROM VETERANS
COL VIJAY BHATE:
Capt Shikha Saxena has done full justice to the subject she has written about!
Very true that induction of women in Armed Forces started without any detailed planning .First, as a Grand Step by people in power without any detailed thinking or planning by MOD involving the Armed Forces.
Thereafter, HQs started pushing and implementing after directions from the SC. So ,there was neither any Blue Print nor Plan !Consequently, every women course that was inducted faced different issues,problems and obstacles!
One hopes that now atleast the CDS / HQ IDS sits down with the three Chiefs to prepare some sort of BLUE PRINT!
As for Award for Col Qureshi, isn't it puzzling that on one hand the Govt did not act , even on directions of SC ,against the Minister who badly insulted Col Quershi decided to now bestow her with this coveted award of VSM.
COL SHIVAJI RANJAN GHOSH :
While the propriety of awarding a gallantry awards (Ashok Chakra and Kirti Chakra) to two astronauts, including one to a person who was merely the reserve and did not actually go to space, and a distinguished service medal (VSM) to the Army spokesperson may be debated for all times to come, the fact that seems to have been forgotten is that the precedents for these awards had already been set. Wing Cdr Rakesh Sharma and Gp Capt Ravish Malhotra had been awarded the very same medals for the same act, the AC and KC respectively, and Gen Bikram Singh was awarded a VSM for being the Army spokesperson during the Kargil ops.
A precedent had been set, right or wrong. We need to learn to live with it.
GP CAPT AG BEWOOR:
The Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) is awarded to personnel of the Indian Armed Forces to recognize "distinguished service of a high order" rendered during peacetime. It honours exceptional dedication and service, often acknowledging a long-standing career or specific significant contributions to the armed forces, and can be awarded to all ranks.
1. What is the argument raised about VSM for Col Qureshi? That she did not deserve it? Who are these officers? What are their own status and qualifications to question the award? How many of them are recipients of VSM, AVSM, PVSM? Why do I ask, because what did they do to get that award? Was their contribution far superior to what Qureshi did?
2. In today's severe environment of media glare with well informed reporters, speaking to them is not easy. Recall how then Col Bikram Singh handled Kargil briefings. Recall how people handled Blue Star briefings. How Uri & Pathankot attacks and later Surgical Strike briefings were handled. How the Pulwama tragedy was handled. Media has many other sources to corroborate and question statements made by Briefing Officers. Qureshi had never been exposed to such tasks, she was pitched into the den with wolves and lions. This was not her task, she had not been trained for it, she is from Signals. There were no professional PROs with her. Senior offrs sitting at the table could not intervene.
3. It certainly was "specific contribution to the armed forces". How many of those critical of the award are capable of conducting such a briefing? Very un-officer like qualities displayed by them, they need to apologise to Qureshi. She did an excellent job in difficult conditions, repeatedly, smartly turned out, well dressed and without any stress on her face. What more can anyone want from a colonel in our Army, man or woman? I would very much like to compliment her personally. Bahut badhia. She was never scared, nor was Vyomika Singh scared. She is already a decorated officer for her heptr operational work.
GP CAPT AG BEWOOR:
1. The last sentence of Col Bhate's response has little relevance to the debate of how ill prepared the Armed Forces and MOD have been to induct girls into the Services. What has the absence of action against the minister got to do with the VSM to Qureshi? Does it mean that unless the minister is disciplined Qureshi cannot be given any award or even a promotion?
2. The absence of a proper Staff Paper with sequence of actions / tasks to induct girls into NDA/ OTA / All Boys Schools etc is because the IAS possibly does not teach their recruits staff work and govt procedures at Mussoorie, I don't know, but it appears to be so, if the non-existence of a Blueprint is correct. Even within the Armed Forces there has not been a very serious exercise and appreciation / staff paper and very broad based deliberations on the matter.
3. The ruling from Courts was implemented hurriedly, as if speed was of essence rather than deliberate and well thought out processes. That other countries have girls in the Forces is no reason for us to induct them immediately. The lawyers who argued the case were more keen to get a victory rather than see a safe and carefully crafted method of inducting girls into the Fauj. Be aware that all those high and mighty legal luminaries who fought for women's entry into the Fauj, will never send their daughters, daughters in law, nieces, sisters, cousins, friends' female kins into the Fauj. That was for the less fortunate families, their kids will not go to Baramulla they will go to Boston. Their kids will not go to Walong, they will go to Warwick. Their girls will not go to Leh, they will go to London. Even the judges thought they had delivered one hell of a judgment, their kids will go to Princeton not Pulwama. Therefore, how to implement the ruling does not bother them, it is not their responsibility they say. They only look at the Law and the Constitution and sadly remain blinkered and happily unaffected by the admin problems to do their bidding. If their kids had been going into the Fauj, these judges and lawyers would have been deeply involved in the processes, safety factors, trg syllabus, and so many other matters. Utterly selfish communities are these legal eagles.
4. We have drifted from the main topic, why did the Govt give Qureshi a VSM? Why not? Officers have got medals for far lesser actions. Imagine the distress these questions have caused to Qureshi's family and kids? Conduct unbecoming of an officer to play this game in public domain.
GP CAPT TP SRIVASTAVA
I have read earlier write ups of Capt Shikha Saxena . It has become a norm to condemn serving superior. For her to state that "not enough due diligence " or words to that effect, was done before induction of women is indicative of her lack of knowledge and research before penning the views. A comprehensive paper was submitted by MoD on the issue, which clearly stated and accepted that issues will emerge but will have to be addressed and modifications done. There was lot of debate on induction to combat arms. It was unequivocally rejected for initial period but was not negated. There are many other issues, which the author is unaware of. Her write up is totally devoid of suggestions, which should have been implemented. For records at least in IAF, we asked every lady officer to submit in writing the issues that must be addressed. For instance ladies toilet was an issue in underground structures. But a solution was found and implemented. Articles containing derogatory references must be avoided from publishing unless it contains specific details of flaws in existing system and suggested remedial measures.
MAJ GEN RAJ MEHTA
Capt Shikha Sharma is stating a reality as it was felt. We may have our presumptions about right or wrong, hype or reality but the fact remains that the male mindset dominates on the issue of women in uniform.
This mindset sees them as care providers and nurturers, people not quite suited for the brutal cut and thrust of soldiering.
I have gone into the experiences of women in uniform worldwide and specially in Israel. I have had women officers under command in the ranks of Bde Cdr, Sector Cdr, GOC Div and as COS all in the war zone.
My views are...in context of the current issue...that the Army for sure hadn't thought enough on and about women in non traditional roles.
This resulted in mistakes at both ends...system as well as WOs.
Today, we are a mite clearer about their non traditional utilisation and WOs more aware of what a level playing means and why they must measure up to its demands.
Encourage them, is my advice, Do not insist on defending old male mindsets. Women officers realise they must cope too...there are no short cuts...for either.
MAJ GEN CD SAWANT
To add to what Gen Raj Mehta commented in respect of WOs. Women are conscripted in Israeli Army for a specific duration. While in Israel in 2009, I had interacted with two young ladies who were in Infantry. We must note that not (not) one Female Soldier has been deployed by IDF in Gaza since last three years. Indian Army must(must) remember this while employing women in our units.
CAPT SHIKHA SAXENA ( author)
I think it’s best we pause the discussion here, as it has once again moved into anecdotal territory rather than remaining data-led. This subject cannot have a to a binary view - "yes she did well ...no she did not perform well" ; multiple shades of grey need to be acknowledged.
At this stage, the focus should be on compatibility and organic integration going forward, rather than revisiting what could have been done differently in the past. That chapter is closed. The only value the past holds now is as data—to help take more informed decisions for the future.
BRIG BL POONIA
I agree with Gp Capt TP Srivastava.
There was no resistance ever shown by the Defence Forces for recruitment of women officers in Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps or Military Nursing Service? So why was it done only when it came to recruiting them in fighting arms and supporting arms? The ladies see it from employment point of view, quoting right to equality, while the Service Chiefs see it from the fighting efficiency point of view. Hence such decisions have per force got to be taken, based on trials and experience, for which feedback from the Commanding Officers (COs) and the formation commanders is a must. Is there anything wrong in it?
In Oct 2024, there was a feedback given by Lt Gen Rajeev Puri, GOC 17 Mountain Strike Corps, to Lt Gen Ram Chander Tiwari, Army Commander Eastern Command, about the performance of women COs, based on the feedback received from the Brigade and Division Commanders. Unfortunately, it was quite disappointing. And may be there were many more such feedbacks, but we came to know about this particular case, only because the letter got leaked out on the social media.
But should such acts of feedbacks be seen as lack of blue print? And this is what makes the women officers rush to the Supreme Court, and consider every decision in their favour as having been wronged by the Service Chiefs, labelling the male-dominated Army as anti-women. And it is precisely this attitude which makes some of them view the male officers in general being anti-women; when it is not so.
As regards award of VSM to Col Sophia Quereshi, there is nothing wrong in principle. But why should those questioning it be seen as anti-women either? Afterall, didn't Gen Dalbir Suhag come under heavy criticism for awarding PVSMs and AVSMs to almost all the Lt Gens and Maj Gens respectively, during Republic Day 2017? Those who condemned it had a point, but should they be seen as anti-general officers?
On such issues, when dealing with people, we should not forget that we are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion. However, at the same time, we should not forget that right to free speech does not provide a licence to condemn everything with a cavelier attitude by gloating over the views and actions of the Service Chiefs.
The Constitution guarantees us, only the right to air fair comments, and does not provide protection to expressing whatever crosses one's mind. So when an event like this happens, we have to stick to discipline and ignore inexperienced market commentators, to include a few experienced ones, who ad nauseam, are obsessed with impressing the women officers by speaking in their favour, trying to gain popularity among them, which is more than obvious from their language. But none of them have pin pointed, as to how exactly the women officers have been wronged.
Notwithstanding the above, while you may agree or disagree with her views, you have to admire Capt Shikha Saxena's chutzpah, which gets a further boost from such officers supporting her, forgetting that a new idea should have something to recommend, besides just condemning the existing ones.
Just because a decision of the Supreme Court goes in favour of the women officers, does not mean that it was the best decision to improve the fighting efficiency of the Indian Army, or the women officers had been wronged. The Supreme Court decisions in such matters are purely academic in nature, trying to uphold the right to equality, guaranteed under Articles 14 to 18.
GP CAPT TP SRIVASTAVA
Women in military have been serving in AMC much before we joined NDA. Hence to state that military did not know the issues, is not supported by logic. Indeed induction in large numbers did cause avoidable inconvenience. Not one, incl the author of article, has supported their stand by specific example.
GP CAPT AG BEWOOR
1. The way things went through the Supreme Courts on this matter was a clear indication that we were completely unprepared for inducting girls. The inevitability of their induction was so obvious, and indeed desirable. But headstrong as we have been, and wanting to leave the fight to the Govt lawyers, the whole matter became an imposition. Why were military lawyers not used during the arguments? Or were they used?
2. The Armed Forces leadership on their own should have demanded induction of girls into the Services first and got Govt to issue orders. With the clear assurance that girls will also enter other arms once the system gets used to the presence of women in uniform and working along with male offrs and Jawans in the field. Govt lawyers were hugely incompetent to fight for us. What knowledge do they have about our frailties and limitations, nothing. In any case we, the Fauji leadership should have preempted the courts and inducted girls. They deserved to be in the Armed Forces. We never did an appreciation on how to do it. We, the Indian Armed Forces leaders failed the women of India.
3. That is why there is no thought through staff paper and Statement of Case that ensured the smooth and happy induction of girls into the Fauj. Once the orders were issued to induct them, the hesitation, reluctance, objections, unhappiness, in many cases disgust, was made apparent to the female recruits, all Indian girls. Our own children with Indian ethos and culture that would embellish and polish the officer cadres in India. Instead of finding solutions, we spent hours impeding the process and making it 'mushkil' for the girls to get an honourable entry. How we educated the ORs on this subject is also very murky. there were adequate attempts to show that the girls cannot cope up with the trg syllabus. Today these girls have exposed and demolished all those bad intentions. They have performed better than us men.
4. Those comments about girl Commanding Officers are not unexpected. Because our Reviewing and Senior Reviewing Officers were made up men who inherently disapproved of girls becoming COs. It can be said very honestly that male COs will also attract similar comments in their ACRs. Secondly, our ROs and SROs were not trained to become sensitive to 40 yrs old women with children and domestic responsibilities, as COs. The 40 yrs old male CO, with children and domestic commitments is a different being, than a 40 yrs old female CO. Of course becoming COs of combat units directly in the line of fire is undesirable. Hollywood movies of foreign women in combat gave a fake picture of girls in direct combat. The public fell for it as did the legal and political community, and sensing they could bulldoze girls into combat units, they tried strong arm tactics, they failed. By now the military leadership had learnt their lessons, and more importantly, the lady officers had understood the foolishness of trying to worm their way into frontline units facing enemy weapons. We have enough males to take those bullets, we don't need to offer our girls to be killed in action.
5. We did not execute this critical and major exercise with the professionalism displayed by male leadership in so many admin and Opl arenas. That is why it is said that ' getting an old idea out of a military brain is near impossible'. It took a Court Danda to make us do what we should have done by ourselves.
COL NV BAREJA ,ex Sigs , advocate SC & Delhi HC : I fully endorse my views in line with Gp. Capt.Bewoor.
GP CAPT AG BEWOOR:
1. I would urge Col Bareja to educate us on why JAG lawyers from all three services were not allowed to argue the case? Or were they arguing on behalf of the Govt?
2. I would even go so far as to make a plea to the SC thru persons like Bareja for the matter to be re-examined and our girls getting much more than they are today but from the correct places and appts as is appropriate. Wingco Vyomika is already a decorated officer, a VSM was not necessary. Qureshi was CO was she not? Maybe she will become one now? The utility of lady offrs has to be exploited for max opl advantage and boosting fighting capability of the males. Bollywood is full of spl forces girls beating up 4 to 5 males, that is not the real world where gore and battered limbs happen. There were two girls who went down in that aircraft at Baramati. Absolutely avoidable crash. Remember we lost a girl pilot in an AVRO crash many years back.
3. While everyone wants to proclaim that " we girls can do whatever the boys do", that is not applicable across the board, and our leadership, both male & female, must accept this fact and then place girls and boys accordingly. There has to be a study done and a comprehensive staff paper prepared with long term plans to guide recruitment, trg, inductions into different branches / trades and so on. And the study must be revisited until we get it right for the Faujis and Fauj along with for men and women. For each Service the terms of ref will vary. One upmanship between "our Girls and your Girls" must be strictly avoided and severe strictures passed against those offrs, man or woman, who indulge in such shameful activity.
4. We have a very long way to go in creating the most favourable mix of male & female officers. Lady Other Ranks have already joined up making the canvas even more complex. Let us not push this matter into the freezer and live in the hope that it will get sorted out on its own, it will not and ignoring it will cause burns and boils ending in formation of pus. Under those conditions the treatment and recovery will be painful as well as embarrassing in full public gaze.
COL NL BAREJA , advocate SC & HC
Well, as regards the arguments before the Supreme Court or for that matter before the High Court, only the advocates duly engaged by the parties, are allowed to advance their arguments, except in certain circumstances the court may seek any / some clarification from the representative of the department/party. JAG officers or for that matter officers nominated by the department brief the engaged Counsel. So much so they can even give certain clarification through the counsel. In any case the Govt makes all out efforts to win the case by hook or by crook..
BRIG BL POONIA
Reference Gp Capt AG Bewoor's comments.
He has gone to the extreme limit of condemning the Defence Services for the presumed injustice done to the women, saying:
● We have let down the women of India.
● Everything was left to the civil lawyers to defend our case in the Supreme Court.
● Why were Army lawyers not used?
To begin with, let me clarify that women were inducted in the Defence Services in 1992 through an executive policy of the Government, and not on the directions of Supreme Court. Judicial intervention occurred later to correct structural discrimination within service conditions, culminating in the Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling, to grant Permanent Commission (Babita Puniya vs Union of India).
Nor was the case in the Supreme Court left to the lawyers alone. They only argued it on behalf of Union of India (MoD) based on the briefings carried out and affadavits prepared by the MoD. And it is a misnomer that Army lawyers of the JAG Branch are better qualified to argue the case. In fact, the Supreme Court lawyers have a far better knowledge of constitutional matters, and a far wider exposure to law.
I have personally handled a case regarding a Habeas Corpus writ petition filed for ULFA militant leaders missing after an operation along Indo-Bhutan border, heard by Hon'ble Justice J Chelameswar, Chief Justice Guwahati High Court, in 2007, where the Respondents were the Union of India, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chief of the Army Staff, Army Commander Eastern Command, the Corps Commander and the Division Commander. I was the Deputy GOC of the Division which had carried out the Operation alongwith the CPOs, in conjunction with the Royal Bhutan Army.
Since no local civil lawyer was prepared to argue the case due to the threat issued by the militant ULFA leaders, we used a JAG Branch officer ex Army Headquarters, and even the Judge Advocate General of the Indian Army was present in the court. The JAG Branch lawyer made some embarrassing comment right during the first hearing, when the Chief Justice lost his temper and admonished him strongly. We had to cut a sorry figure, hence moved him away immediately, and got a civil lawyer from Calcutta High Court to argue the case, whom I briefed personally. Needless to say, we won the case.
We must understand that the Government of India (MoD) has been taking the required actions from time to time. Just because we are not aware of the same doesn't imply that everything happens only when the veterans make the MoD and the Service Chiefs wake up, since we not only know much more than them, but are concerned far more than they are. The first thing we need to do, is to shed this mindset.
A study was conducted by HQ Integrated Defence Staff in 2006 on issues related to management of women officers. It recommended cautious expansion, particularly regarding combat arms, and noted that meaningful evaluation required a 10–14 year gestation period to assess outcomes such as command roles and field performance.
Moreover, it has to be an ongoing process based on the periodic feedbacks received from various commanders. This is how a new system gets evolved. It can't be a hurried affair, if we want to lay down a strong foundation. Afterall the women are not our enemies, so let's not use a language which makes them feel so.
As regards incremental entry to NDA since 2022, the women have been allotted dedicated vacancies, to be reviewed continously, for commissioning into the Army, Navy and Air Force, and the issue is being monitored for its impact.
The government’s court affidavits explicitly say that long-term implications of such inductions need to be studied and deliberated upon, showing an ongoing evaluation rather than a single final plan. Hence we should not be looking for an ultimate blue print right at this stage.
As regards broader planning and policy making, statements by defence officials, and ministers in Parliament, have highlighted plans to increase women’s numbers, open more branches/services for them, and progressively remove barriers, implying that gender integration is part of long-term human resource planning for the defence forces.
Key details of the developments are listed below:
• Initial Initiative (1992): The government initiated the move, allowing women to join as Short Service Commission (SSC) officers in specific branches.
• Expansion and Transition: The WSES was replaced by the Short Service Commission (SSC) in 2006, extending tenures from 10 to 14 years.
• Judicial Intervention (Later Stage): While the 1992 induction was not court-mandated, later advancements, such as granting Permanent Commission and command roles, were driven by the Supreme Court directions.
• Combat Roles: The Indian Air Force started experimenting with women in combat roles in 2015, which were institutionalized in 2022.
Hence we need not doubt the intentions of the government, the serving fraternity or the Service Chiefs. Every individual and every agency involved, is doing its job with utmost devotion, hence let us not make it a women versus men issue. While we are united by uniform, let us not get divided by gender.
GP CAPT AG BEWOOR
I have no quarrel with everything that Punia has written, it is all true and makes for good understanding. As far as I know, the orders for induction of women into the Forces was driven by Courts and not by Defence HQs. Or am I wrong? Many judicial interventions have taken place. if one JAG fellow was foolish does not mean all would bungle, but then the decision of the Commander must prevail.
My aim is not to create and provoke a gender schism. It is unfortunately there, seen by so many of us and felt by so many who are serving and experience it. It will pass, not on its own but by determined efforts to demolish biases. The biases exist, just as they do within all other professions where the first lot were men and now are flooded by women, working with, and as superiors of men. That not enough brainstorming and unfettered in-house debates have happened is acknowledged by those who are in the know. Surely now it has begun. There are very senior women offrs whose wisdom must be added into the debate. There is bound to be friction between men & women offrs based entirely on gender issues. If the friction between only men from different Arms & services was accepted and managed, why not this gender friction? All this is a part of growing up, there is much more to happen, what is 35 odd years in the life of our Fauj when girls started joining up. Today girls are Agniveers, unimagined a decade back. It is this amalgamation and close intercourse between the women and men of Indian Armed Forces that needs to be made into a solid pillar of integrity and camaraderie. To achieve that we have to work hard at ensuring that the balm to reduce the friction and misunderstandings is always avlbl and used. The corporate world has made huge changes in this field, we have much to learn from them. IITs and IIMs and University stalwarts can help us, they have been handling this gender friction for centuries.
I have expressed enough and withdraw from further comments.
BRIG SANJAY SANGWAN
The patriotism, enthusiasm and motivation to serve the country in uniform of the girls is commendable no doubt but this strong hormonal surge often needs to be tampered with by a wider perspective and wisdom. Yes, historically women in India had taken to arms often but they were invariably in exceptional circumstances when their kingdom or family was threatened and they chose not to give in meekly. Commendable but have the girls ever wondered why the Kshatranis of Chittorgarh and Jaisalmer opted for a painful death of Jauhar and not fight alongside their men? They weren't weak or chicken hearted and had seen bloodshed and wars all their lives.
The recent treatment of Yazidi women in Syria and Iraq and of Israeli women soldiers in Gaza and by Hamas fighters should be a lesson to the whole world.
The enemy India fights on our borders and within is no ethical soldiers but similar extremely radicalised inhuman fundamentals.
Women's lib or equality movement had begun in the West with women seeking equal rights as mentioned which were primarily voting rights and to end discrimination in their working environment. Influenced by media projections and a belief of the West being superior, our girls too began exerting themselves which too is fine but like job description in the corporate, military too has a job description which can be defined by the Galwan clashes, Kargil war and Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman's ejection in Pak or INS Khukri. Yes, women have been participating in contact sports including boxing and martial arts but that is one in ten million and after years of professional training.
Generation Z is a pampered lot who have had it easy with adequate resources, easy access but no hardships. Wars in virtual reality look exciting and glamour of the uniform in war movies is inspiring and I suspect some of the girls join only because a friend is joining. Peer pressure is a big factor in teenagers.
Military service is not the only way to serve the country or become a hero. All citizens in every field doing meaningful work are serving the country and one can be a hero in any and every field. The Padma awards off-late are testimony to it. There are multiple CPOs offering opportunities to serve in uniform and they all are doing yeoman service for the country. Women can serve in the military too but there has to be a good reason why they were allowed in the services early but not the fighting arms.
The strength of an organisation is that of its weakest link and putting women in the frontline is a weakness we can do without. Let them fight a non-contact war from safe areas in depth, contribute to R&D, strengthen the crucial logistics support and perform various administrative and technical functions. Op Sindoor is a recent example.
Military isn't a welfare organisation providing employment opportunities for consolidation of votes. The risks and implications of wrong decisions here are rather severe. There is no dearth of eligible men in India either.
Whenever man has gone against nature, the outcomes have been disastrous and when men are out fighting for the country, handling the home front is an equally important responsibility. More important than giving birth is nurturing and bringing up the next generation which shall mould the future of the country.
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