Lieutenant Deeksha Tripathi becomes first woman to complete the gruelling Army Martial Arts Routine combat course
The routine especially focuses on combat in high altitude areas, where a large number of troops are deployed in hostile conditions
A woman Indian Army officer, Lieutenant Deeksha Tripathi, has successfully completed the Army Martial Arts Routine (AMAR) course at the Army Institute of Physical Training, Pune, becoming the first female combatant to qualify in the grueling programme.
Renowned as one of the most challenging combat-oriented courses, AMAR rigorously tests the limits of physical endurance and mental resilience of an individual.
“Lt Deeksha not only withstood its relentless demands but with sheer grit, perseverance and determination excelled with flying colours,” the Army’s Leb-based Fire and Fury Corps said on Tuesday. This implies that Deeksha was posted in the Ladakh region.
Introduced in 2023, AMAR is a modern, structured combat system developed for the Indian Army to enhance close-quarters battle skills by combining traditional Indian martial arts with international techniques.
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It focuses on bare-hand combat, weapons, improving stamina and mental conditioning for high-altitude and unconventional warfare.
It was developed to replace older unarmed combat training and prepares soldiers for complex, real-time, close-quarter combat scenarios where firearms may or may not be immediately available. Its protocols include offensive assaults, weapon-based combat and defence against sharp-edged and improvised weapons.
The routine especially focuses on combat in high altitude areas, where a large number of troops are deployed in hostile conditions and the environment is demanding on individuals and affects physical performance as well as mental fortitude.
While women officers in all three services have been regularly participating in adventure activities such as para-jumping, long distance running, sailing expeditions and car and bike rallies, they have only recently forayed in areas that were the exclusive domain of male soldiers.
In December 2022, Major Deeksha C. Mududevan from the Army Medical Corps became the first woman to be awarded the coveted Balidan Badge which identifies members of the elite Special Forces.
She had qualified for induction into the Parachute Regiment as a Regimental Medical Officer on her third attempt. She has also won the best in physical training award during the Military Observer Basic Course.
Except for the Infantry and Armoured Corps, women officers now form part of almost all arms and services in the Indian Army, including combat arms and combat support arms like the Artillery and Army Aviation.
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Women had broken a glass ceiling in 2016 when they were inducted as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force, flying frontline combat like the Rafale and Su-30. They are now also serving onboard warships at sea.
