Major Navya Shekhawat Becomes First Woman Army ADC to President

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Wednesday, 8 July 2026

Major Navya Shekhawat, an Indian Army officer, has made history as the first female officer from the Army to be appointed as the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President of India. Her elevation to this prestigious position at Rashtrapati Bhavan is a historic day for the Indian Armed Forces and a proud achievement in the evolution of women officers to assume positions of responsibility, honor and national protocol.

Currently, Major is working as ADC to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. She is the first woman from the Indian Army to be appointed as ADC to the President and the second woman officer overall, following Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki from the Indian Navy who was appointed as the first woman ADC in May 2025.

Her achievement is not just a personal milestone but also an important chapter in the journey of women in uniform. It is a reflection of the evolving situation of women officers in the Indian Armed Forces who are being accorded due recognition for their performance, professionalism and leadership qualities.

Major started his career with the Indian Army through the highly competitive Combined Defense Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. She cleared CDS exam and was selected and added to the merit list of Officers Training Academy, Chennai (OTA) for Short Service Commission Women Non-Technical Course.

Key Highlights:

• Historic First: First woman Army officer appointed as the President's ADC
• Career Achievement: Rose from CDS cadet to Rashtrapati Bhavan
• Women in Defense: Inspires future women officers

One of the top military training institutes in India, OTA Chennai is responsible for producing commissioned officers of the Indian Army. The training at OTA is physically demanding, mentally challenging, requires leadership, discipline and officer-like qualities. This training was quite challenging and Major successfully accomplished this and was commissioned in the Indian Army.

She was assigned to one of the most important services of the Indian Army: the Army Service Corps. The ASC is vital to the smooth running of the force and it is responsible for logistics, supply, transport, fuel, rations etc. Whether it's a military engagement, the war of 1812 or the conflict in Afghanistan, the ability to operate depends on efficient logistics and the Army Service Corps is at the heart of this mission.

Her journey from being a CDS qualified aspirant to a commissioned officer and eventually to one of the most coveted positions in the military establishment exemplifies her commitment, capabilities, and professional excellence. When selected by the institution to be ADC to the President in just a few years of service, the confidence they had in her abilities is reflected.

The ADC-1 to the President is one of the most reputed and prominent offices in the Indian Armed forces. ADCs are members of the President's staff and are responsible for his/her official, ceremonial and protocol functions. They are seen at significant occasions of the nation, state ceremony, investiture ceremony, official engagement and diplomatic functions.

Requires set professional conduct, confidence, bearing, communication skills and military protocol. An ADC is not only a service man or woman, but the dignity and professionalism of the Armed Forces, at the highest level of the Republic.

For years, those appointments were predominantly male. The appointment of the first woman ADC to the President Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki of the Indian Navy in 2025 marked a historic new chapter, however. The appointment of Major Navya, the first woman officer to join the Indian Army in the same cadre, has been a further boost to that progress.

Her visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan has motivated many young defense aspirant students, particularly the women who aspire to join the Armed Forces. Photos and videos of Major with the President at official ceremonies have garnered many appreciations. In the eyes of many, she is now a living icon of Nari Shakti in uniform.

Major's feat has to be viewed in the light of the overall participation of women in the Indian Army. In the early 1990s, women officers entered the Army via the Short Service Commission. Their role has grown considerably over the years in the various arms and services.

The 2020 Supreme Court ruling for the permanent commission to women officers was a landmark decision. Since then, there has been greater opportunity for women officers to be commanders, staff officers, and to be promoted for long-term careers. This is a bigger change in the Armed Forces which proves when Major is appointed ADC.

She's also proven herself in every arm and branch in her career. Army Services such as the Army Service Corps provide the foundation for combat arms to do their jobs, and they are not as well-known as those combat arms. The story of Major demonstrates that, through hard work, service and merit, officers from all branches can excel and achieve high-level positions.

Her tale is significant for defense aspirants who are preparing for CDS, SSB interviews and various other ways to enter into the Armed Forces. Academic preparation, physical fitness, leadership, confidence, discipline and character are the foundations of success in the military. The journey of Major from OTA to Rashtrapati Bhavan is an eye opener on the significance of nurturing these qualities.

Her appointment is also a tribute to the fact that the Indian army is still evolving over the years and is still alive with its core values of duty, honor and service. The appointments of capable women officers in such high profile positions reflect the strong message being sent that leadership and excellence is on the basis of merit, not gender.

The historic elevation of Major Navya as the first woman Indian Army officer to join the Indian Army as ADC to the President of India is a proud moment for the nation. It reflects the increasing trust in women officers and their capacity to work well and make a difference in the most challenging and senior assignments.

While she carries on with her work at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Major is an inspiration for a lot of young Indians. Her journey is a testament to discipline, determination, professionalism and the strength of service in silence. Her story is a testament to the power of dedication and merit, inspiring aspiring cadets and young people everywhere to dream big and strive for greatness.