Army ready to induct women in infantry if there is societal acceptance: General Upendra Dwivedi

Speaking ahead of 78th Army Day, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday (January 13, 2026), highlighted how gender inclusion has expanded throughout various branches, including artillery, air defence, and the Territorial Army. He said, “We are ready to induct women in the infantry and India as nation and society is ready to accept it.”

General Dwivedi also highlighted that women are serving in skydiving teams, technical corps, and command positions. The Army has reopened territorial recruitment for women and has been expanding opportunities in areas such as intelligence, logistics, and education.

“We have also opened up medical non-tech as well as the Army Education Corps for the same. As announced last year, the all-women skydiving display team [Nari Yodha Skydiving Team] at Bhatinda (Punjab) was created.” Gen. Dwivedi said.

Giving an estimation on the current representation of women in the Army, he said, “Regarding women officers and women soldiers, feedback on performance has been quite encouraging. We are expanding progressively, and as I had mentioned last year, we are now test-bedding limited entries into the Territorial Army, Home and Hearth with 36 vacancies.

Talking about the development and infrastructure enhancement, Gen. Dwivedi said that capability development and infrastructure enhancement are progressing through a whole-of-government approach. As regards the Western Front, following the Pahalgam terror attack a clear decision to respond decisively was taken at the highest level. “Operation Sindoor was conceptualised and executed with precision.”

Gen. Dwivedi said that in line with the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, “we are proud to say that 159 out of 175 ammunition categories the Indian Army holds have been fully indigenised, that is, over 90%. technology infusion.”