Now, women in lower Army ranks

New Delhi, September 8

In a path-breaking move, the Indian Army has okayed the induction of women into other ranks in the force. Women have been part of the force as officers since 1992, but the force had not allowed the induction of women into the ranks.

The Army has now decided to introduce Women in Corps of the Military Police. A proposal is being finalised for induction of 800 women with a yearly intake of 52.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The military police force does not undertake frontline combat duties. However, it is used to enforce discipline in the Army that has its own Act to govern service rules.

The Army faces an increasing need for investigation against gender-specific allegations and crime, hence the need to have women in other ranks. Women are there in non-officer ranks in the Army medical establishments. 

Meanwhile, the Army’s proposal of upgrading the rank structure, which will benefit approximately 1.45 lakh other ranks, has been approved by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The upgrading process, which will take around five years, will ensure higher career progression for JCOs and others.

The last Cadre Review for the Army was done in 1984.

The MoD has also agreed to start two premier residential Army Public Schools that are likely to come up at Bhopal in MP and Mamun in Punjab. These schools will have a capacity of 2,000 children each and will exclusively cater to the growing needs of quality education of children of all ranks. — TNS

Path-breaking move 

• The Army has decided to introduce Women in Corps of the Military Police
• A proposal is being finalised for induction of around 800 women with a yearly intake of 52 per year