The total held strength of defence personnel vis-à-vis the total number of female officers (excluding medical and dental branch) in all the three wings of defence forces is as under:
| Army | Navy | Air Force
|
||||||
| Total officers
(as on 1.1. 2016) |
PBOR (as on 1.1. 2016) |
Women officers
(as on 1.7. 2016) |
Total officers
(as on 6.12. 2016) |
Sailors
(as on 6.12. 2016) |
Women officers
(as on 6.12. 2016) |
Total officers
(as on 1.12. 2016)
|
Airmen
(as on 1.11. 2016) |
Women officers
(as on 1.12. 2016)
|
| 41162 | 1159093 | 1512 | 9356 | 57031 | 453 | 11948 | 128898 | 1584 |
The Government has been taking steps to make Short Service Commission (SSC) more attractive which in turn is also expected to encourage the intake of women officers in the Armed Forces. Further, few more branches / streams have been opened for induction of women as SSC officers.
The details of women officers (excluding medical and dental branch) recruited during the last three years, Service-wise, are as under:
| Year | Army | Navy | Air Force
|
| 2013 | 127 | 50 | 144 |
| 2014 | 104 | 57 | 155 |
| 2015 | 72 | 35 | 223 |
On experimental basis, the Government has inducted three women Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) in Air Force into the fighter stream on 18.6.2016. This experimental entry scheme for women in fighter stream will be valid for 5 years from the date of issue of Government of India letter dated 2.12.2015. However, presently there is no proposal with the Government to induct women officers for combat duties in Army or for deployment of women onboard warships.