The Indian government has given the green light to the Indian Army’s proposal to include women officers in the Regiment of Artillery, according to a Union Cabinet minister.
The decision was made on March 20 and announced by Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt, in response to a question from BJP MP Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt regarding steps taken by the government to include women in the Artillery units.
The Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande, had previously sent the proposal to the government, citing gender empowerment in the Army as a focus area.
The exact number of women officers who will be inducted into the Artillery will be determined when the next batch is commissioned from the Officers Training Academy in Chennai later this year.
Artillery is a combat support arm of the Army and the second-largest in size after the Infantry. Artillery Regiments consist of various calibers of guns, surface-to-surface missiles, tracked guns, mortars, and unmanned aerial platforms.
Women officers are also being considered for Colonel (Select Grade) ranks and given command appointments. Overall, the move to include women officers in the Regiment of Artillery is a significant step towards gender parity in the Indian Army.