3 min learnNew DelhiUp to date: Sep 2, 2026 09:16 AM IST
AIR VICE-MARSHAL Shakti Sharma has made historical past as the primary girl officer (non-medical) within the Indian defence forces to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal (or its equal).
She is the primary girl officer within the Indian Armed Forces to interrupt this glass ceiling and attain such a milestone. Within the Military and Navy, ladies officers thus far have reached the rank of Colonel and equal.
On Tuesday, AVM Sharma assumed cost as Assistant Chief of the Air Employees (Training) at Air Headquarters, the Ministry of Defence stated in an announcement, including that this landmark achievemenț marks a brand new chapter within the journey of girls officers within the defence forces.
Commissioned into the Training Department of the IAF on June 18, 1994, the senior officer has served throughout varied coaching institutions, area stations, command headquarters and Air Headquarters in her over three many years of distinguished service.
The Ministry of Defence assertion famous that all through her profession, AVM Sharma has spearheaded key institutional initiatives, together with establishing the IAF Chairs of Excellence at IlT-Kanpur and Pune College to drive tutorial and strategic defence collaboration.
She can be the primary girl officer from the Tri-Providers to command a Sainik Faculty, serving as Principal of Sainik Faculty, Kapurthala.
One of many key explanation why a girl officer may obtain this feat is attributed to the Indian Air Force (IAF) formally granting Everlasting Fee standing to ladies officers in 2010. Since then, the IAF has streamlined alternatives for his or her promotion and profession improvement, together with their participation in varied profession programs.
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The Military and the Navy began granting Everlasting Fee to ladies officers in choose arms/providers and branches in 2008. Nevertheless, that was prolonged to a number of different branches in 2020 after the Supreme Court docket’s intervention.
The truth that just one girl officer (non-medical) has attained the rank of Air Vice Marshal (AVM) displays the extremely aggressive nature of profession development within the Armed Forces. The competitors is intense because of the restricted variety of vacancies as all officers progress by way of the ranks.
Girls officers within the IAF have recorded important achievements previously. In 2023, the Air Drive chosen Group Captain Shaliza Dhami to take command of a frontline fight unit, making her the primary girl officer within the IAF to command a missile squadron within the western sector going through Pakistan.
Final month, Squadron Chief Bhawana Kanth turned the primary girl pilot to clear the Fighter Fight Chief (FCL) course on the Techniques and Air Fight Growth Institution in Gwalior.
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In Could this 12 months, Squadron Chief Saanya turned the primary girl officer within the Indian Air Drive to earn the elite Class-A Certified Flying Teacher (Cat-A QFI) qualification.
