The Indian Army has taken a significant step towards gender equality and inclusivity by commissioning its first batch of women officers into the Regiment of Artillery. After successfully completing their training at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai, five women officers have joined the combat support arm.
This event marks a major milestone in the journey of women officers in the Indian Army who have been breaking barriers to serve their country. The women officers will be provided with the same opportunities and challenges as their male counterparts, with 19 men also commissioned into the regiment alongside them.
The women officers will be posted across artillery units, where they will receive adequate training and exposure to handle Rocket, Medium, Field, and Surveillance & Target
Acquisition (SATA) equipment in challenging conditions. Three of the five women officers are posted to units deployed along the Northern borders, and the other two are posted in challenging locations in the Western Theatre.
The five women officers who were commissioned are Lt Mehak Saini, Lt Sakshi Dubey, Lt Aditi Yadav, Lt Pious Mudgil, and Lt Akanksha. Lt Mehak Saini is commissioned into a SATA Regiment, Lt Sakshi Dubey & Lt Aditi Yadav into Field Regiments, Lt Pious Mudgil commissioned into a Medium Regiment, and Lt Akanksha commissioned into a Rocket Regiment.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by senior military officials, including Lt Gen Adosh Kumar, Colonel Commandant and Director General of Artillery (Designate), other dignitaries, and proud family members of the newly commissioned officers. The young women cadets took the oath of allegiance to the Constitution and received their rank insignia, signifying their entry into the Regiment of Artillery.
The Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Pande, announced the decision of commissioning women officers into Artillery in January, which was later approved by the Government. This step by the Indian Army is a significant move towards gender equality and inclusivity and will inspire many more women to pursue a career in the armed
forces.
