What induction of women sailors in Navy for the first time means for India’s Armed Forces, Agnipath scheme

On March 28, the passing out parade of the first batch of 2,585 Agniveers, including 273 women, as sailors into the Indian Navy took place from the portals of INS Chilka in Odisha.In fact, it is for the first time that the Indian Navy is inducting women sailors.According to Admiral R Hari Kumar, of the 10 lakh individuals who applied for the available positions in the Indian Navy, 82,000 were women.That the service is gender-neutral is a point emphasised by the Navy chief several times in the past few years. While the Indian Navy earlier accepted fighter pilots and female air operations officers, inducting women as sailors is a giant step forward.In the upcoming years, women would be allowed to join all remaining branches, the Navy Chief has also assured.The government had introduced the Agnipath scheme last year. The Indian Navy, thereafter, carried out an all-India merit-based Agnipath recruitment scheme and leveraged the opportunity to commence the entry of women Agniveers into service.The passing out parade on INS Chilka was the first batch of Agniveers selected for the Indian Navy.The Agnipath scheme was introduced on May 14 in 2022. As part of this scheme, young Indians who wish to join the armed services can do so through a common entrance to all three wings of the Indian defence services, whether it’s the Army, Navy or Air Force.The Agnipath Army Bharti Scheme is available to all applicants between the ages of 17.5 and 23 years, and it recruits 45,000 to 50,000 soldiers every year for a four-year commitment.Agniveers is the name given to those selected through the Agnipath initiative.After four years of employment, Agniveers will get competitive pay and an exit retirement package. After fulfilling their tenure, Agniveers also will be given the chance to apply for permanent enlistment in the armed forces.Audio production: Anil Chauhan