Induction of women fighter pilots in IAF

February 2, 2022

On February 1, 2022, defence minister Rajnath Singh announced government’s decision to convert experimental scheme of inducting women as fighter pilots into a permanent one.

Key Points

Experimental scheme to allow women to fly fighter planes in Indian Air Force (IAF) was started six years ago in 2015.
16 women have been commissioned as fighter pilots so far, since the implementation of experimental scheme in 2016.
Now, defence ministry has given clearance to make this scheme a permanent one.

Background

This move was announced at a time when new doors have been opened for women in the armed forces. Indian Navy is going ahead with a plan to provide women opportunities to serve warships, with their male counterparts. Indian Army has also allowed women to fly helicopters. They are now eligible for permanent commission. Furthermore, the National Defence Academy is set to induct first batch of women cadets in June 2022. The Supreme Court had pronounced to open doors of this academy to women in October 2021.

Women Pilots in IAF

The women pilots of IAF are operating the Rafale, MiG-21s, Sukhoi-30s and MiG-29 fighters. Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh is India’s first Rafale pilot. She was part of the IAF tableau, which was featured in the Republic Day parade 2022.

Women in the army

More than 9,000 women are currently serving the army, navy and air force. The services are providing them more opportunities to boost career progression. As a result, headcount of women in forces has increased in last seven years. Women have now been allowed to fly fighter planes and serve on warships. Women were permitted to join the armed forces outside medical stream in 1992, for the first time. In May 2021, Indian army inducted the first batch of women into Corps of Military Police. It was the first time, women were allowed to join military in non-officer cadre.

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