New Delhi: The Defense Ministry has informed the Supreme Court that a notification allowing women candidates to appear in the National Defense Academy (NDA) entrance examination will be issued by May 2022.
The ministry said that there is a need for well-planned planning and careful preparation to ensure smooth entry and seamless training of such women candidates keeping in view the time limit. An affidavit filed in the apex court said, “The government, in line with its commitment, wishes to categorically state that women candidates through the National Defense Academy will be considered for admission to the existing courses in the three defense services.” “
It said that the NDA entrance exam is conducted twice a year and the government proposes to put in place the necessary mechanism by May 2022. By that time the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will have to publish the first notification for the exam next year.
The affidavit said the defense services have constituted a study group, consisting of experts, to expeditiously prepare a comprehensive curriculum for women cadets in the NDA. The Board of Officers has been constituted to give a holistic and futuristic proposal for the training of women cadets in NDA covering all relevant aspects.
The affidavit states that in order to appear in the examination candidates are required to fulfill the eligibility criteria which include physical standards such as height and weight. Medical standards exist for male cadets and are being drawn up for women as well. It needs to be finalized before joining the academy. The ministry said the Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Services and a body of experts will do this work for the three defense services. The ministry said that there is a need to formulate norms like curriculum and outdoor training in respect of exercises, swimming, sports.
As the process of UPSC notification is to begin in the next year, there will be a need to examine the current infrastructural position in the NDA for inclusion of women, the affidavit said. The ministry said that all NDA cadets are housed in cabins in the Squadron Building. The number of cabins for women cadets will have to be considered to increase if the number of female cadets increases. Toilets will have to be arranged according to the needs of the women cadets. To maintain privacy, toilets will need to be rebuilt or replaced.
The affidavit states that administrative and miscellaneous requirements will also have to be worked out. Apart from this, gynecologists, sports medicine specialists, counselors, nursing staff, and female attendants will also be required, who will be posted at Military Hospital, Khadakwasla. The Centre, earlier, had told the apex court that the armed forces have decided to include women in the NDA. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, had told that along with the armed forces, it has been decided at the top level of the government that women will be included for permanent commission through NDA.
The top court was hearing a petition filed by advocate Kush Kalra. The petition has raised the issue of exclusion of deserving and willing women candidates from the prestigious NDA on mere gender grounds, which allegedly violates the fundamental right to equality.
The petition states that the authorities allow unmarried male candidates possessing the appropriate qualification of 10+2 to appear for the ‘National Defense Academy and Naval Academy Examination’, but deserving and willing female candidates on the basis of their gender and without Giving is not allowed. It said such a move is an insult to the constitutional values of equality and non-discrimination by the authorities concerned.
The petition states that UPSC conducts the ‘National Defense Academy and Naval Academy Examination’ and as per the eligibility criteria, any unmarried male candidate having the required educational qualification and in the age group of 15-18 years can appear. The petition states that after passing the examination and successfully completing training in NDA and training in the respective academy of the service chosen by the cadet, the candidate would have been commissioned into the service as a permanent commissioned officer till the age of 19-22 years. Is.
It has been contended in the petition that this opportunity to take the NDA and Naval Academy examination in the age group of 15-18 years with eligible educational qualification is not available to the eligible and interested women candidates and they are excluded on the basis of gender only. It claimed that the duration of training for short-service commissioned women officers is much shorter than the training that a male permanent commissioned officer receives upon entry through the NDA.
