Promotion Policy for Women Officers in the Armed Forces

The details of the extant promotion policy for women officers in the armed forces, service-wise is as follows:

Army: Presently, Women Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) of all Arms / Services are eligible for substantive promotion to non-select ranks of Captain, Major and Lieutenant Colonel on completion of 2, 6, and 13 years of reckonable commissioned service respectively, at par with Men SSCOs. Women officers granted Permanent Commission are eligible for promotion in the Select Ranks (Colonel & above) based on the same criteria as applicable to Male officers.

Navy: In the Indian Navy, officers are eligible for substantive promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, Commander and Captain (Time Scale) after completion of 2 years as Sub Lieutenant, 4 years from the date of promotion of Substantive Lieutenant, 11 years from the date of promotion of Substantive Lieutenant and 26 years of reckonable commissioned service respectively. Promotions on these lines are subject to officers fulfilling other criteria as per extant rules. This policy is equally applicable to both men and women officers.

Air Force: The promotion policy for men and women officers in IAF is same. Promotion upto the non-select rank of Wing Commander and Group Captain (TS) is based on the years of service and minimum performance criteria and the same is applicable for men and women officers. Officers are eligible for substantive promotion to the rank of Flt. Lieutenant, Squadron Leader, Wing Commander and Group Captain (Time Scale) after completion of 2 years, 6 years, 13 years, and 26 years of reckonable commissioned service respectively. Promotions on these lines are subject to officers fulfilling other criteria as per extant rules. From the rank of Group Captain (Select) and above the promotion is based on selection process as per the promotion policy in vogue which is common for both men and women.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Shadi Lal Batra in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, 30 July 2015.

Source : PIB