Women Cadets Create History at IMA..

Women empowerment in the Indian Armed Forces has reached a historic milestone as, for the first time, nine women cadets from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) have been commissioned into the Army through Permanent Commission. President Droupadi Murmu, who attended the Passing Out Parade at Dehradun, described the achievement as a landmark moment in India's military history. The development marks a significant step towards gender equality and greater representation of women in leadership roles within the armed forces.

The journey became possible after a series of landmark court rulings that opened new opportunities for women in defence services. Following the Supreme Court’s 2020 verdict granting women eligibility for Permanent Commission and the 2021 decision allowing women to enter the National Defence Academy (NDA), the first batch of female cadets began training in 2022. After undergoing rigorous training on par with their male counterparts, nine women officers successfully earned their commissions, inspiring a new generation of young women to pursue careers in the armed forces.