Army not yet ready to send women in combat: Gen Rawat

Women serving in the Indian Army will soon play an increasing role in areas like information, psychological warfare and other non-combat areas, but the Army was not yet ready to send women for frontline combat duties, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said in Pune on Friday.

Rawat was speaking to the media after the Passing Out Parade of the National Defence Academy's 135th course.
Responding to a question about the role that women will play in the Army in the coming years, General Rawat said, “Women are being inducted in all the three services and it is not new. We have deliberated on whether women can be given permanent commission. Along with the other two forces, Army too has identified some areas where we can see more women officers being inducted…”.

He added, “Women are already present in education and law wings of the armed forces. In addition, we have identified areas such as information warfare and psychological warfare, where women can play a bigger role. In military diplomacy, we need language interpreters. There is a need to talk, engage with and understand our
neighbouring countries and other nations. We are looking at recruiting more women as interpreters. So, you will see an increasing role of women in the armed forces.

“However, we haven't taken them in frontline combat as of now, because we feel that we are not yet ready for that. While the facilities have to be created in these arms, women…