Major Navya Shekhawat Becomes First Woman Army President's ADC

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Tuesday, 15 September 2026

Major Navya Shekhawat has created a milestone by becoming the first woman officer from the Indian Army to serve as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Droupadi Murmu. Her appointment at Rashtrapati Bhavan highlights the growing presence of women in important roles within the Indian armed forces.

As an ADC, Major Navya assists the President during official engagements and ceremonies. The role also involves managing military and ceremonial protocol and coordinating with senior civilian and military officials.

Her presence alongside President Droupadi at official events at Rashtrapati Bhavan reflects the changing role of women in the armed forces. The appointment marks another step towards greater representation of women in military leadership and ceremonial positions.

Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki of the Indian Navy was the first woman in the Indian Navy to become the President's ADC in 2025. The role of the ADC is not solely one of ceremonial appointments with the President, but that is only one aspect.

Key Highlights:

• Major Navya becomes the first woman Army officer to serve as the President’s ADC
• She was commissioned into the Army Service Corps in 2021 and rose to the rank of Major within a few years
• Her appointment reflects the growing role of women in the Indian Army and follows decades of expanding opportunities for women officers

Conventionally, the President has five ADCs, three of whom are from the Army, one from the Navy and one from the Air Force. They are senior officials who help the President during official engagements and ceremonies and, in addition, keep to military and ceremonial protocol.

Navya's military career started with the Combined Defense Services (CDS) examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) like many youngsters who want to join the armed forces.

According to the reports, she made it to the merit list for the SSCWNT Course and later got trained at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai.

Once she completed her training, Nayva was commissioned into the Army Service Corps (ASC) – responsible for important logistical functions, such as supplies, transportation and other systems that are needed to keep military formations operational.

She was commissioned in mid-2021, and was promoted to the rank of Major in just a few years. That's about five years after she started her commissioned service when she was appointed the President's ADC in 2026, reports said.

Notably, women started entering the Indian Army via the Short Service Commission route in 1992. Opportunities grew over time both because of policy changes and judicial rulings. In 2020, the Supreme Court had said that eligible women officers on short service commission be considered for permanent commission on par with their male counterparts.