New Delhi: A Special Number 5 Selection Board for screening women officers for grant of PC was constituted in September 2020. The board's results were declared in November 2020.

Consequent to the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court, granting a Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers in the Indian Army, another 147 have been given a PC. The total number of women officers with PC now stands at 424 out of the 615 considered.

After the apex court's judgment, a Special Number 5 Selection Board for screening women officers for grant of PC was constituted in September 2020. The board's results were declared in November 2020.

Again, in March 2021, the Honourable Supreme Court directed to re-consider some cases of women officers who were not granted PC initially by laying down revised parameters for the grant.

The officers were re-considered as per directions of the top court and in the fresh declassified results, 147 of them have been granted a PC.

Results of some officers have been withheld for administrative reasons as they are awaiting the outcome of the clarification petition filed by the Union of India (UOI) in the Supreme Court.

All women officers granted PC would undergo special training courses and challenging military assignments which will empower them for higher leadership roles in the Indian Army. A batch of 33 has already successfully completed the Mid Level Tactical Orientation Course from Army War College Mhow.

Meanwhile, all the officers who were considered in this Special Number 5 Selection Board and not granted a PC will still be eligible for a pension, subject to serving for a minimum of 20 years.

Some women officers who have already served for 20 years have been released with a pension, while others will be allowed to continue to serve till 20 years and will be released with a pension.

PC for women officers in junior batches has also commenced from December 2020, in which they are considered for PC in their 10th year of service.

With a grant of PC, the Women Officers are transcending into an era of gender parity and are gearing up to assume challenging leadership roles, akin to their male counterparts.