- Total of 60 #women candidates were commissioned as officers in #IndianArmy in 2021
NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, MARCH 21
Recruitment in the Indian Army has remained suspended mainly to curb the spread of COVID-19 and the government has not stopped it, Parliament was informed on Monday.
“Coronavirus infections have slowed down but it is not over yet. Big crowds come for recruitment in the Indian Army. Big (recruitment) fairs are organised for the purpose.
Total of 60 #women candidates were commissioned as officers in #IndianArmy in 2021
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— PRO Defence Gujarat (@DefencePRO_Guj) March 21, 2022
“Therefore we have suspended (the recruitment process in Army) so that the virus does not spread. We have not stopped it,” said Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt while replying to a supplementary to a starred question in Rajya Sabha.
According to the written reply tabled in the House, after the pandemic hit India in 2020, the recruitment in India Army remained suspended during 2020-21 and 2021-22.
However, according to the reply, 2,722 persons were enrolled in the Indian Navy and 8,423 person in the Indian Air Force in 2020-21.
Similarly, 5,547 persons were enrolled in the Indian Navy and 4,609 in the IAF in 2021-22.
In 2018-19, 53,431 candidates were enrolled in the Indian Army while the number was 80,572 in 2019-20. The written reply also stated, “Sufficient recruitment is undertaken to meet manpower requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.”
About supplementary question on recruiting women in armed forces in combat roles, Bhatt said the provisions for recruitment of women in the armed forces are being adhered to and the other issue (combat roles) is under consideration.
The supplementary question on recruiting women in combat roles was asked by NCP member Vandana Chavan.
More than 300 vacancies for female candidates in Indian Army, Navy and Air Force
Indian Army
(i) Officers: There are no recruitment camps and rallies conducted for officers’ recruitment. In 2021, a total of 60 women candidates were commissioned as officers in the Indian Army (IA).
(ii) Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs)/ Other Rank (OR): A total of 300 vacancies for recruitment of Women Military Police have been released till date. Status of recruitment is as given below:
| Recruiting Year | Vacancies Released | Intake | Remarks |
| 2019-20 | 101 | 100 | Completed training and inducted in the Corps. |
| 2020-21 | 99 | – | Recruitment withheld owing to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. |
| 2021-22 | 100 | – |
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy has discontinued conduct of recruitment camps (rallies) since 2018 and has fully migrated to online application based recruitment examinations. No recruitment camps and rallies are therefore being organized in any State/UT of the country. The details of female candidates inducted into the Indian Navy as officers in last four years are as follows:
| Year | No. of females inducted |
| 2018 | 29 |
| 2019 | 51 |
| 2020 | 32 |
| 2021 | 58 |
Indian Air Force
Induction of officers’ cadre (men & women) in the Indian Air Force (IAF) is not undertaken through recruitment camps and rallies. Induction process in officers’ cadre comprises of entrance exam and testing at Air Force Selection Boards (AFSBs). In the year 2021, a total of 115 women candidates were inducted for training into the officers’ cadre. Presently, recruitment in airmen cadre is carried out only for male candidates.
The number of seats for women candidates to be recruited as officers in NDA and OTA are as under:
(i) NDA – 20 per year [All three Services]
(ii) OTA – 80 per year
Indian Naval Academy (INA)
For induction into the Indian Navy through INA, applications are invited from eligible candidates (both men and women) and the shortlisted candidates are screened by the Services Selection Boards (SSB). Qualified candidates are appointed in the Navy as per their merit position vis-à-vis available vacancies. Women candidates compete with their male counterparts under a common selection process. Number of women candidates being inducted in the Navy is only dependent upon their position in the merit which is prepared taking into consideration their performance in the SSB interviews.
Air Force Academy (AFA)
47 vacancies at AFA are earmarked (for women) for course commencing July 2022 onwards.
Provision for enrolment of women as Other Ranks (OR) in Corps of Military Police in the Indian Army has been introduced in 2019. Under this scheme, 1700 women have been planned to be inducted in a phased manner (approximately 100 per year). There is no provision for direct recruitment of women candidates as Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and Non-Commissioned Officers.
Presently, female candidates are inducted only in the officers ranks in the Indian Navy.
The recruitment in airmen cadre in the IAF is carried out only for male candidates at present.
A study group on ‘Management of Women Officers in Indian Army’ has been ordered to examine the intake of women candidates for recruitment as officers in the Indian Army. Provision for enrolment of women as OR in Corps of Military Police in the Indian Army was introduced in 2019.
The induction process of Indian Navy is gender-neutral except for Branches where specific vacancies (maximum number) have been earmarked for women.
Entry for women in officers’ cadre is open for all branches and sub-streams. The induction of women candidates is calibrated to meet organizational and operational requirements of the IAF. It is maintained branch-wise and induction planning is done accordingly.
This information was given by MoS for Defence Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Iranna Kadadi in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
