Indian Army grants time scale Colonel Rank to Women Officers

Colonel Rank To Women Officers

A Selection Board of the Indian Army cleared the way to grant colonel rank to five women officers, post completion of 26 years of reckonable service. This is the first time that women officers serving with the Corps of Signals, Corps of Electronic and Mechanical Engineers (EME) and the Corps of Engineers have been approved to the rank of Colonel.

Previously, promotion to the rank of Colonel was only applicable for women officers in the Army Medical Corps (AMC), Judge Advocate General (JAG) and the Army Education Corps (AEC).

The widening of promotion avenues to more branches of the Indian Army is a sign of increasing career opportunities for women officers. Combined with the decision to grant permanent commission to women officers from a majority of branches of the Indian Army, this step defines the Indian Army’s approach towards a gender-neutral Army.

The five women officers selected for Colonel Time Scale rank are

1. Lt Col Sangeeta Sardana (Corps of Signals)

2. Lt Col Sonia Anand (Corps of EME)

3. Lt Col Navneet Duggal (Corps of EME)

4. Lt Col Reenu Khanna (Corps of Engineers)

5. Lt Col Ritcha Sagar (Corps of Engineers)