Ministry of Defence Women in Armed Forces  12 MAR 2018 The held strength of women officers vis a viz male officers in the Armed Forces is as given below: Women Men Indian Army : (excluding Medical, Dental & Nursing) 1561 41074 Indian Air Force : (excluding Medical & Dental branch) 1594 10781 Indian Navy: (including Medical & Dental officers). 644 10652 In consonance with the policy in vogue, women officers are not inducted in Arms of Indian Army which are involved in direct combat role. The first batch of three women fighter pilots has been commissioned into the IAF in 2016. Women officers in the Indian Navy are employed in combat, combat support and support roles. In their capacity as Pilots and Observers onboard Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft, women are being employed in a combat role. In Navy, the policy for setting up of Permanent Commission for women officers in Law & Education and Naval Constructors branch has been finalized. In case of...