Indian Defence Services as a Lucrative Career Option for Females

It’s always tough for women to get job opportunities in Indian defence services. Girls are not allowed to appear for NDA examination as they are meant to be tough for female candidates. But women also pushed their abilities and accepted the challenge to defeat all the odd deeds and become an Army officer.

In the year 1963, Punita Arora became the first Lieutenant General of Indian Armed Forces and also the first Vice Admiral of Indian Navy to join the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. It was not enough, she then became the first woman officer of AFMC in 2004.

Then in the year 2011, Priya Jhingan broke all the stereotypes by becoming the first woman jawan of Indian Army. She was 25 years old when she joined the army by defeating all the male counterparts in physical fitness tests. She also had two children that time.

Not only in Indian Army but women are proving themselves in Indian Navy and Air Force as well. In 2009, Indian Navy got its first woman combatants when Sub Lieutenants Ambica Hooda and Seema Rani became the first women airborne tacticians of the Navy. Lieutenant Kiran Shekhawat of Haryana also accepted the challenge and became first woman naval officer at the age of 27. And now the recent example of Mohana Singh, Bhawana Kanth and Avani Chaturvedi became the first female fighter pilots of India in 2016 has set the new goals for women candidates to look forward for jobs in defence services.

With seeking the new employment opportunities for women, Indian Defence Services are coming up with new openings for female candidates. The Indian Armed Forces have four professional uniformed services; Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard and women can apply for any one of these services.

Indian Army

Unmarried Female candidates can only apply for Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination and girls are only eligible for Officers Training Academy (OTA). NDA exams are only for boys. Another way of joining Indian Army is through National Cadet Corps (NCC). Judge Advocate General (JAG) and Short Service Commission (SSC) (Technical) jobs are also open for women engineers.

Eligibility

• For CDS: Candidates must be a graduate or are in final year of graduation.
• For NCC: Candidates must have completed graduation with minimum 50% marks and have completed two years of service in the NCC Senior Division (Army) with minimum ‘B’ Grade in the ‘C’ Certificate Exam. Unmarried girls between the age of 19-25 can apply.
• For JAG: Candidates between the age of 21-27 and must have done LLB with minimum 55% marks and eligible to register for Bar Council of India or State.
• For SSC: Unmarried engineering candidates between the age of 20-27 can apply. This opportunity is also open for widows of defence personnels who have kids too but only if they are not remarried.

Physical Standards

Height: candidates must have a minimum height of 152 cm. This height is relaxable by 5cm for Northeast and hilly areas and by 2 cm for candidates of Lakshadweep.

Weight: Candidates must have a minimum weight of 42 kg.

Visual Acuity: 6/6 for better eye and 6/8 for worse eye in Distant vision and Myopia should not be more than minus 3.5.

Earning potential

SSC officers earns the monthly stipend of Rs. 21,000/- during their training period and when they become Lieutenant they earns about Rs. 65,000/-. They also get free canteen facilities, government accommodation, mess, club and sports facilities and free medical services.

Indian Air Force

In Indian Air Force, women can get entry through Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT). By this can candidates get entry in Flying, Technical and Ground Duty branches.

Eligibility

• For Flying Branch: Candidates must be between the age of 19-23 years and have done BE or B.Tech with minimum 60% marks. Height should be 162.5 cm.
• For Technical Branch: Candidates must have completed B.Tech in Aeronautical Engineering or have passed Sections A and B exam of AIME India or Aeronautical Society of India. Candidates should have minimum height of 152 cm.
• For Ground Duty Branch: Candidates must be graduate with the age between 20-23 years. If the candidate is post graduate or have done 5 years LLB integrated course should be 20-26 years old. M.Ed, PhD, CA, ICWA candidates should be 20-27 years old. Minimum height of candidate should be 152 cm with correlated weight.
• For Administration and Logistics: Candidates must be graduate with minimum 60% marks and post graduate with 50% marks.
• Accounts: Candidates must have done B.Com with minimum 60% marks and M.Com, CA or ICWA with 50% marks.
• Education: Candidates must have done post-graduation with minimum 50% marks.

Earning Potential

A Flying branch officer earns a monthly salary of Rs. 80,250/-, Technical branch officer earns Rs. 71,550 per month while Ground Duty officer earns Rs. 68,550/- per month.

Indian Navy

Women can apply for Indian Navy as Short Service Commission (SSC) officers. Check the eligibility criteria in the next slide.

Eligibility

• Air Traffic Control (ATC): Candidates between the age of 19.5 to 25 and having an engineering degree are eligible.
• Education: Candidates with the age of 21-25 years are eligible for this post. Candidates must have done MA, M.Sc and M.Tech with at least 50% marks can apply.
• Law: Candidates are of 22-27 years and have passed LLB with 55% marks.
• Logistics: Candidates must be between the age of 19.5-25 years and have passed B.Sc or B.Com with post-graduation diploma in Logistics, Finance, Material Management and supply chain management with at least 60% marks.
• Naval Architecture: Candidate between the age of 19-24 years and have passed B.Tech or B.E with 65% marks are eligible.
• Observer: Candidates who have passed B.E or B.Tech with at least 55% marks and have the age between 19-24 years.
• Pilot: Candidates between the age of 19-24 years can apply. Candidates must have done BE or B.Tech with 60% marks.

Earning Potential

A Sub-Lieutenant earns a salary at pay band 3, which is Rs. 15,600-39,100/- with a grade pay of Rs. 5,400/- and a military pay service of Rs. 6,000/- per month. Candidates also get other allowances ranges between Rs. 400-14,000/- per month.

Indian Coast Guard

In this category of defence services, women can only apply for non-sea going position like General Duty posts, Pilot or Navigation for the period of 8 years which could be extended up to 10 years and further extendable to 14 years on case-to-case basis.

Eligibility

• For General Duty: Candidates should be 21-25 years of age and have done 12^th with Physics and Maths and graduation. Height should be 152 cm and weight should be proportionate to height. Eye sight should be 6/6 and 6/9 without glasses.
• For Pilots and CPL: Candidates with the age of 19-25 years can apply. Candidates must have passed 12^th standard and possess current CPL. Candidates must have height between 162.5-197 cm. Eye sight should be 6/6 without glasses.
• For Law: Candidates should be 21-30 years of age and should have passed a degree in law. Height should be 152 cm and weight should be proportionate to height. Eye sight 6/12 with glass and 6/60 without glasses.

Earning Potential

The salary of an Assistant Commandant is between Rs. 15,600-39,100 with a grade pay of Rs. 5,400/- per month.