New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has raised strong concerns over the exclusion of women candidates from permanent commission training academies through the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination, questioning the central government’s continued gender disparity in military recruitment.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay on Wednesday directed the government to file its response and fixed November 2025 for the next hearing.
CDS Entry Only Through OTA for Women: A Serious Concern, Says Court
Currently, women appearing for the CDS exam conducted by UPSC are only allowed to apply for the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, which offers short service commission (SSC). In contrast, male candidates can apply for:
- Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
- Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala
- Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad
These institutions grant permanent commission, translating into a full-fledged career in the armed forces, unlike OTA, where tenure is limited to 10 years, extendable up to 14 years.
“Women officers are not getting permanent jobs in the Army. This is a serious matter,” the High Court observed.
Petition Cites Violation of Constitutional Rights
The PIL was filed by advocate Kush Kalra, who argued that barring women from applying to IMA, INA, and AFA through the CDS exam violates their fundamental rights under:
- Article 14: Right to Equality
- Article 16: Equal opportunity in public employment
- Article 19(1)(g): Right to practice any profession
“When the role of women in the Army is expanding, keeping them out of full participation in CDS is arbitrary and unconstitutional,” Kalra argued.
Supreme Court Precedents Strengthen the Case
The petition cites landmark Supreme Court rulings that have paved the way for greater inclusion of women in the defence forces–
- In 2020, the Supreme Court held that women officers are entitled to permanent commission and command postings in the Army.
- In 2021, the apex court allowed women to appear in the NDA exam for the first time.
- By December 2021, 19 women cadets had joined NDA, with the first batch graduating from IMA in 2023.
Despite these advancements, the CDS structure continues to exclude women from key military academies offering permanent career pathways.
Training Gaps and Combat Role Exclusion Still Exist
There is also a marked difference in training duration–
- IMA, INA, AFA: ~18 months of training
- OTA: 49 weeks of training
Historically, women in the armed forces have been confined to non-combat roles, but with policy reforms now allowing women into combat and command positions, the continued limitation through CDS is increasingly untenable.
“If women are now serving in combat and command roles, why deny them full entry into CDS academies?” the petition questions.
Political and Social Repercussions
The case also raises broader questions about gender equality in defence, especially at a time when India is attempting to project a more inclusive and modern military force. With increasing numbers of women taking on frontline roles globally, India’s policies are now under judicial and public scrutiny.
