In a First Indian Army grants Colonel Ranks to Five Women Officers

By: WE Staff | Monday, 23 August 2021

Women officers were granted time scale Colonel rank by the Indian Army on Monday. According to the defence ministry, a selection board of the Indian Army has approved the promotion of five female officers to Colonel (time scale) rank.

According to the government, these officers have completed 26 years of "reckonable service."

Lt Col Sangeeta Sardana of the Corps of Signals, Lt Col Sonia Anand and Lt Col Navneet Duggal of the Corps of EME, and Lt Col Reenu Khanna and Lt Col Ritcha Sagar of the Corps of Engineers are the five women officers chosen for Colonel time ccale rank.

This is the first time that women officers in the Corps of Signals, Corps of Electronic and Mechanical Engineers (EME), and Corps of Engineers have been promoted to Colonel.

Previously, women officers in the Army Medical Corps (AMC), Judge Advocate General (JAG), and Army Education Corps were the only ones who could advance to the rank of Colonel (AEC).

"The widening of promotion avenues to more branches of the Indian Army is a sign of increasing career opportunities for women officers," the defence ministry said.

"Combined with the decision to grant permanent commission to women officers from a majority of branches of the Indian Army, this step defines the Indian Army’s approach towards a gender-neutral Army," it added.