The Central Government, quoting the Ministry of Defence, has told the Supreme Court that all the arrangements required for women to take admission in the National Defense Academy (NDA) will be completed by May next year.
The Defence Ministry has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that all the necessary preparations will be completed before the release of the notification of the NDA entrance examination of the Central Public Service Commission for the batch of 2022.
The affidavit reads, “It will take some time to build additional washrooms, hostels and cabins, prepare curriculum for new trainees and other things.”
It has also been told in the affidavit that a group of experts has also been constituted to change the structural structure and system, which will give its suggestions regarding the inclusion of women in the NDA.
In August this year, the Supreme Court cleared the way for women’s entry into the NDA.
Till now only men have been taking training in NDA and women were not allowed to appear in its entrance exam.
The court had criticized the “outdated mentality” of the central government of not allowing women to appear in the NDA exam.
The court had said that this is a policy decision which has been made on the basis of gender inequality.
A public interest litigation was filed seeking women’s entry into the NDA, on which the Supreme Court gave this decision while hearing it.
To take training in NDA, there is a tough national level examination after 12th standard in which cadets are prepared for the rank of officer in the army.
Women have been working in the army as doctors, nurses, engineers, indicators, administrators and lawyers.
He has treated soldiers on the battlefield, handled explosives. Mines have been discovered and deactivated and lines laid for communication.
Experts say that women have done almost everything except fighting. They have been kept away from infantry and armored service.
In the year 2019, the government had allowed permanent commission to women, but in view of the physical problems of older women, the government had said that it would be applicable only to those officers who have served less than 14 years.
