An Indian Navy woman officer leading the Navy contingent at a Republic Day parade in New Delhi. (File photo for representation.)
New Delhi: In a historic announcement, the Indian Navy chief, Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar, on Friday said a woman officer will command a Navy warship. Without naming the officer, Adm Hari Kumar said the officer is currently undergoing pre-commissioning training and will assume the charge soon.
India Sentinels has learned that the woman officer is a lieutenant commander and will command the patrol ship INS Trinkat, which is currently deployed in the western seaboard.
This comes 30 years after the service started inducting women officers in the force. The Navy experimented with putting women officers from its logistics and medical branches on INS Jyoti, which is Komandarm Fedko-class replenishment oiler. Then the service stopped deploying women on its ships.
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However, it may be mentioned that around 40 women officers are currently serving on deployed ships, including frontline warships.
Adm Hari Kumar also said the service is open to women sailors to join even submarines. Replying to a reporter’s question, Adm Hari Kumar said, “We have no restriction on anyone joining any arms. Joining in aviation, submarines, and marine commando (MARCOS) wings, they have to volunteer for that. After following the due process, they can be inducted in these wings.”
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This development comes when the armed forces are quickening their pace to include women in combat roles. Already, women are flying Indian Air Force fighter planes, deployed on Indian Navy warships, and posted in the Indian Army’s artillery units.
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