ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 19 April. Click Here for more information.
ForumIAS Answer Writing Focus Group (AWFG) for Mains 2024 commencing from 24th June 2024. The Entrance Test for the program will be held on 28th April 2024 at 9 AM. To know more about the program visit: https://forumias.com/blog/awfg2024
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
