President Kovind: First batch of women cadets to enter NDA in June

The Budget Session began with the President’s address to members of both the Houses in the Central Hall. While highlighting the various initiatives taken by the Central Government for women empowerment, the President said, “A provision has been made for the Gender Inclusion Fund in the National Education Policy to promote learning capability among our daughters. It is a matter of happiness that all the existing 33 Sainik Schools have started admitting girl students. The government has also approved the admission of women cadets in the NDA. The first batch of women cadets will enter the NDA in June 2022. With the policy decisions and encouragement of my government, the number of women personnel in various police forces has more than doubled as compared to 2014.”

An interim order was passed by the apex court in August last year while hearing a plea seeking directions to allow eligible women to appear for the entrance exams of the NDA and Naval Academy examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The apex court had asked UPSC to issue a corrigendum in keeping with its interim direction. The court had, however, said that admission of women candidates will be subject to the final ruling on the petition. The Central Government has submitted to the apex court that a study group has been established to facilitate the entry of women, and the necessary mechanism to facilitate that can be put in place by May 2022.

The written exam for NDA admission for which women appeared was conducted in November last year. In a written reply to Dr Amar Patnaik in Rajya Sabha on the number of applications received for the latest NDA entrance, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said on December 13, “The total number of applications received – 5,75,856. Total number of applications received from female candidates – 1,77,654. Necessary infrastructure and facilities for training of female candidates are in place…There was no restriction on the number of female applicants who could apply for the 2021 NDA Examination.”

Meanwhile, in the hearing on a petition on the issue on January 18, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to explain why just 19 women will be admitted to the first batch. It has given Centre three weeks for an affidavit and listed the matter for March 6.