Amid a growing shortage of officers in the Indian Army, amounting to 17% of the total authorized strength, the allocation of vacancies for women officers has been increased by 80% in the current fiscal year to help bridge the gap.
Regarding the rank and file, the Army has a shortage of 7.72 per cent at the level of junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and other ranks.
“Vacancies have been increased from 80 per year to 144 per year in 2024-25,” India’s Parliament’s Departmentally Related Standing Committee on Defence observed in its report tabled on March 17. The strength of women officers in the Army, excluding those in the medical cadre, is about 1,800.
Vacancies for women officers are allotted based on the organisation’s requirements. Currently, they are permitted to join all arms and services except the Infantry and the Armoured Corps.