In A First, Navy Decides To Induct Women Cadets From NDA : Centre Tells Supreme Court

The Central Government on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that the Indian Navy has decided to induct women cadets from the National Defence Academy in three branches.Navy has decided to induct women in three branches through NDA - education, logistics and Naval Armament Inspectorate- the Court noted after reading the affidavit of the Central Government.A bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice MM Sundresh was considering the case Kush Kalra vs Union of India which sought for the induction of women in the National Defence Academy. In August, 2021, the Court had passed an interim order permitting women to appear in entrance tests conducted for NDA. The Defence Ministry filed an application seeking vacation of the interim order which was rejected in September, 2021 and the Ministry was asked to allow women to appear for the examinations to be conducted in November, 2021.On the previous occasion, the Bench had sought the Union Government's response on a plea seeking higher intake of women in NDA, Rashtriya Indian Military College ("RIMC"), Rashtriya Military Schools ("RMS") and Sainik Schools.The Centre said in an affidavit that the intake of women in NDA will be dependent on the women induction in the armed forces. Additional Solicitor General of India Ms.Aishwarya Bhati apprised the bench today that the Navy does not have direct induction of women or men through NDA. However, in view of the Supreme Court direction to give Permanent Commission to women officers in services they are allowed entry, the Navy has decided to induct cadets from NDA in the above said three branches."This is stated to be the first instance (whether for male or female) that the cadet would be trained at NDA for direct induction as PC officers in these three branches, as at present no PC male officer is directly inducted to these branches to the NDA", the bench noted in its order.At the outset Ms. Bhati remarked that the matter examining the larger issue of representation of women in the armed forces has come up for hearing on the International Women's Day. "Your lordships kept the matter for international women's day, milords. Some people say it is symbolism but I think…it is necessary." The Bench also noted - "Ld. ASG rightly points out that in a prophetic sense matter has come up on women's day."The Bench noted the following salient features from the Centre's affidavit : On an average 20-25 women are inducted every six months through INA(Indian Naval Academy) The Bench recorded from the affidavit that on an average 20-25 women are being inducted through INA every six months for the cadres and branches which are open for their induction. Upon passing from NDA cadets who are inducted as Naval cadets get navy specific training for 6-12 months It was observed that at NDA 19 women cadets are inducted per term, which after three years would be 114 women cadets. The Bench recorded that upon passing from NDA, the cadets who are inducted as Naval cadets record at the Naval Academy for navy specific training for 6-12 months. In Indian Air Force, women are inducted in all branches and sub-streams The Bench was appreciative of the fact that the Indian Armed Forces are inducting women in all branches and the sub-streams as well. At present the Ministry of Defence has proposed to induct 12 PC women officers every year. Accordingly, the Bench recorded. "The best picture that emerges is from the IAF, as women are inducted in all branches and sub-streams. A study carried out 2011 onwards and specifically in 2021 are being used as the basis to arrive at the proposed IAF vacancies in NDA. With the proposed induction 12 PC women officers will be inducted per year and will result in 60 PC women officers being inducted in the next 5 years." 1002 women had passed the NDA written examination conducted in November, 2021 The Bench noted that in the NDA written examination that was held in November, 2021, out of 3,57,197 candidates who took the examination, 8009 candidates including 1002 women candidates passed. The Bench record - "5,75,854 candidates applied for the examination. 3,57,197 candidates took the examination, 8009 candidates including 1002 women candidates passed the NDA written test held in Nov, 2021 and the Service Selection Board is scheduled with effect from March to April, 2022." For induction of women in NDA-II 2021 and NDA-I 2022, each course has 370 vacancies in total The affidavit had clarified that with respect to induction for NDA-II 2021 and NDA-I 2022, each course would have 370 vacancies in total. "On the aspect of induction of women for NDA-II 2021, NDA- I 2022, each course has 370 vacancies for the three services. 208 cadets get commissioned in the Indian Army, 120 in the Indian Air Force and 42 in the Indian Navy." In Indian Army ratio of 'Regular Cadre' to 'support cadre' is 1:1.1 It was briefly recorded by the Bench that office cadre in Indian Army for regular cadre to support cadre was ...

In A First, Navy Decides To Induct Women Cadets From NDA : Centre Tells Supreme Court

Sohini Chowdhury

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