Essential infrastructure enabling women to join NDA to be in place by May 2022

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 22 September 2021

The central government told the Supreme Court that the necessary infrastructure for allowing women to join the armed forces through the National Defence Academy, such as "separate accommodation with robust physical separation between the male and female residential areas" and "bathrooms," will not be ready until May 2022, effectively delaying their entry until then.

According to a further affidavit filed by the ministry of defence, a notification for women's admittance into the armed forces through the NDA will only be issued by that date.

Until the outcome of the Kush Kalra case, a top court bench led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul had directed the central government to allow women to take the NDA exam this year.

The administration has agreed in principle, but is delaying implementation this year due to a lack of infrastructure required for the transition.

The defence ministry stated in a new affidavit filed with the court that it was dedicated to following the court's order by May 2022 because "deliberate planning and painstaking preparation is required for smooth and seamless training of such women candidates."

According to the administration, the process would be preceded by a review of the NDA's female intake strength based on fiscal and administrative grounds.

Criteria for evaluating physical strength and other abilities would also need to be established, as any lowering of standards would "adversely effect the armed forces' war worthiness."

According to previous suggestions and experience, the armed forces would also need to build infrastructure to allow women to enter through the NDA. Separate restrooms and cabins are among them, as is lodging with a "strong boundary between the male and female residential spaces," according to the administration.

Existing restrooms and sanitation facilities will not meet the standards and will require "reconstruction/modification to retain privacy."

During training, the government must also provide security and privacy. "Physical segregation of living quarters" and "additional physical and electronic surveillance measures" are among them.

In addition, gynaecologists, female orderlies, female duty officers, and female instructors will be required to work at the Khadakvasla military hospital.

According to the government, the defence forces have formed a research committee comprised of experts to develop a comprehensive curriculum for female cadets at the NDA.