NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that induction of women cadets in National Defence Academy (NDA) has been a major policy decision and it needs at least three months for deliberating implications in the long term for induction and deployment of ex-NDA women cadets in the Indian Armed Forces.
It said that in respect of the number of women to be inducted for “NDA-II 2021” and “NDA-I 2022,” it is submitted that each course at NDA has 370 vacancies for the three services out of which 208 will get commissioned in the Indian Army, 120 cadets will get commissioned in the Indian Air Force (IAF) and 42 will get commissioned in the Indian Navy.
“The induction of woman cadets in NDA has been a major policy decision. The respondents need sufficient time for deliberating implications in the long term for induction and deployment of ex-NDA women cadets in the Indian Armed Forces. It is, therefore, submitted that the respondents require at least three months additional time towards this,” the Centre said in its affidavit.
The affidavit was filed pursuant to the top court’s direction on a plea filed by advocate Kush Kalra about the data of the women who have appeared for the NDA-2021 examination and the number of women inducted.
The Centre said, “It is submitted that a total of 5,75,854 candidates applied for the exam and 3,57,197 candidates took the examination. A total of 8009 candidates, including 1002 women candidates passed the NDA write examination held during November 2021. The Service Selection Board (SSB) is scheduled with effect from March-April 2022.”
Justifying the number of women cadets for all three forces, the Centre said that in respect of the Army, the ratio is to ensure that there is a younger profile and mobility of officer cadre, borne out of its operational role and tasks in difficult areas.
“The total vacancies planned for the Indian Army through NDA are 416 every year that is 208 per course. These vacancies are planned for all arms and services of the Indian Army. Officers commissioned through NDA have a major component of combat Arms and Women officers (WO) are not being inducted in combat arms,” the affidavit said.
The Centre said that the average intake in the last four years of women officers in the eight arms and services has been up to 15 per cent of the total cadre strength. —PTI

Press Trust of India