Women Taking the Lead: A Look at Women in the Army's Commanding Roles

Rajya Sabha TV's educational programs such as ‘The Big Picture’, ‘In Depth’ and ‘India’s World’ provide valuable insights for those preparing for the IAS exam. In this discussion, we delve into the episode on "Army: Women in Commanding Role".

Host: Frank Rausan Pereira

Panelists: Captain (Retd.) Anubha Rathaur, Defence Expert; Aishwarya Bhati, Advocate, Supreme Court; Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Dhruv C Katoch, Director of India Foundation.

Recent Developments:

• A petition in the Supreme Court seeks to grant permanent commission to women officers in the Indian Armed Forces.
• The Centre suggests that male officers may not be ‘mentally capable’ of accepting orders from women officers, thus raising questions about women's suitability for command posts in the Army.
• Physical and physiological limitations are cited as challenges for women officers in the Armed Forces.
• Contradicting the Centre’s stance, records show that women officers have excelled in hostile and combat situations, working at par with their male counterparts.
• The Supreme Court believes that with administrative will and a change in government mindset, women officers could be assigned command posts in the Army.

Background:

• The Supreme Court heard an appeal against the 2010 judgment of the Delhi High Court, which instructed the Navy to grant permanent commission to all its women officers on Short Service Commission (SSC).
• The Centre has argued against women being given command posts in the Army for various reasons.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has voiced his support for a permanent commission for women in his 2019 Independence Day speech.

Women in India’s Armed Forces:

• Women were first inducted into non-medical roles in the Indian Army in 1992.
• Women are not allowed to serve in combat units such as the Infantry and the Armoured Corps.
• However, women are not given permanent commissions like their male counterparts, except in the streams of Judge Advocate General, Army Education Corps (AEC) and the Military Police.

Key Issues:

Denial of command positions and permanent commissions to women is based on several factors, including their capabilities and societal impact.

• Capabilities of women: The Centre acknowledges that women are as capable, if not more, than men. However, they argue that certain situations, such as pregnancy and motherhood, might affect women's capabilities.
• Societal Impact: The government has expressed concern about the potential international and societal repercussions if a woman is taken captive as a Prisoner of War (PoW).
• Gender Inequality: Most arguments are viewed through the lens of gender bias. The hesitation to place women in combat roles is an indicator of this bias.

Challenges:

The Army Chief has cited the changing nature of war and logistical reasons as key factors behind not posting women on frontlines. The question is not about women's capabilities, but about their ability to manage and lead in adverse conditions.

• Physical Issues: Women's physical stature and strength are different from men, making them more prone to certain injuries and medical problems.
• Physiological Issues: Menstruation and pregnancy can pose particular challenges for women in combat situations.
• Social Issues: Issues like military sexual trauma (MST) can lead to severe psychological problems for women in combat.
• Conventional Barriers: Acceptance of women officers by their male counterparts, especially those from rural backgrounds, remains a challenge.

Way Forward:

• A women combat squadron should be designed and studied extensively before making any decisions.
• Training provided to men and women should be similar to eliminate differentiation on the basis of physical standards.
• Administrative issues should not be a barrier to women’s entry in the Armed Forces.
• Women should be granted permanent commission based on their abilities, not their gender. More women should be involved in the decision-making process.
• Using the patriarchal nature of society as an excuse to deny women opportunities should be stopped.

Conclusion:

The court has emphasised that women who have been serving under SSC for years should be given permanent commission. Society should support the induction of women into frontline commanding positions. Training for both genders should be standardised to eliminate differentiation based on physical capabilities.

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