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Army set to break a glass ceiling
Context
Granting permanent commission to women officers who are in service now as Short Service Commission (SSC) officers
What has happened?
The Army is holding consultations for preparing a plan to grant permanent commission to women in its ranks as it becomes the last military arm to give up resistance to women serving until their age of retirement. Permanent commission would be granted to women officers who are in service now as Short Service Commission (SSC) officers. Those under the SSC get to serve a maximum of 14 years with multiple extensions, and have to leave service without pension in their 30s
Women officers are serving in Navy & Air Force
The Air Force and the Navy shed their opposition to granting permanent commission to women in 2010. As of now, 350 women serve both the forces as permanent commissioned officers, besides doctors and nurses who have historically served alongside male counterparts
Issues
Two issues remain now,
- The practical challenges in deploying women in active areas such as Kashmir; and
- The logistics requirements to accommodate them in areas that have been built exclusively for men
