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Women Officers in Indian Armed Forces
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Career
in the Armed forces offers a rare blend of adventure, good career
prospects and a prestigious job. Several special concessions are
offered by the Armed Forces to its Officers which are not available in
any other service. This includes provision of free rations, facility of
CSD (Canteen Stores Department) where goods of day-to-day use are
available at concessional rates, free first class railway warrant once
every year upto the home town to avail the leave, concessional railway
warrants for subsequent journeys, two months' annual leave (with the
facility of encashment on yearsly basis), concessional furnished family
accommodation, furnished bachelor accommodation in the Officers' mess
at every station and free medical service through its various Military
Hospitals and Regimental Medical Inspection Rooms. These special
benefits are in addition to normal admissible benefits like the casual
leave, Army Group Insurance Scheme, Provident Fund, etc.
While
the career in AMC, MNS and ADC are short service as well as regular
commissions, the new scheme known as Women Special Entry Scheme
(Officers) (WSES)(O) is slightly different. The initial contractual
period is five years but in case any candidate is found unfit or
unsuitable within first six months, her commission can be terminated
any time before the expiry of five year period. The scheme further
provides that all the lady Officers granted commission under this
scheme would serve the Indian Army for a period of five years from the
date of grant of Commission subject to fulfilment of other conditions.
In addition, the lady officers carry reserve liability to serve the
Indian Army for a period of five years plus two years on voluntary
basis, or upto 37 years of age, whichever is earlier. It means that
after their release, the lady Officers remain on reserve for five years
and can be recalled for duty during this period in case of emergencies.
This period could be extended by two more years if the Officer so
desires or upto 37 years of age, whichever is earlier. WSES(O),
however, does not have any provision for permanent commission, although
this matter is said to be under consideration of the Government of
India. Lady Officers in the two entries other than WSES(O), like AMC,
ADC, etc, however, have the provision for permanent commission.
Eligibility & Selection
The
candidate must either be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or
Bhutan, or of Tibetan Origin but of Indian Domicile whose parents
entered India as refugee prior to 1st January 1962 with the intention
of permanently settling in India. Any person of Indian origin who
migrated from the countries like Pakistan, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka,
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam,
with the intention of permanently settling in India is also eligible.
However, all the candidates who are not the citizens of India but are
otherwise eligible under any of the above mentioned categories, must
obtain and attach certificate of eligibility alongwith her application
which is issued by the Government of India.
While the age
limit for ASC, AEC and JAG is 21 to 27 years, this age limit is 19 to
25 years for all other branches including AOC, Engrs, Int Corps, EME
and Sigs. Minimum qualification, however, varies from service to
service as per the table given on next page.
The advertisement
for recruitment of lady Officers under the WSES(O) appears from time to
time as per requirement, normally twice every year in most of the
national and important regional newspapers. The candidates are required
to apply to the Additional Directorate General of Recruiting (Women
Entry Section), West Block-III, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110066. The
format of application is usually given in the advertisement.
Short-listing of eligible candidates is done at the Additional
Directorate level and the short-listed candidates are then required to
appear before the Service Selection Board (SSB). Such candidates are
allowed second class to an fro railway fare for the first time only.
The selected candidates are then required to undergo a medical
examination which is usually done by a special Medical Board at the
nearest Military Hospital. The aspiring candidates must therefore
ensure that they are in good physical and mental health and free from
any disability which is likely to interfere with the efficient
performance of their official duties. The broad indications of medical
standards are that the height and weight should not be less than 36 kgs
and 142 cms respectively for women candidates. Corrected distance
vision should be at least 6/6 for better eye and 6/18 for the worse eye
and Myopia of not more than minus 5.5 D including astigmatism.
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