In a groundbreaking move, the Indian Navy has appointed its first woman commanding officer for a naval ship, announced Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Friday. This significant step aligns with the Navy’s commitment to ‘all roles-all ranks’ for female personnel.
Admiral Kumar expressed, “We appointed the first woman commanding officer of an Indian naval ship. It has been our effort to constantly challenge the status quo to ensure that the navy remains on an aspirational and dynamic trajectory into the future.
The Navy has further incorporated over 1,000 women Agniveers, marking a notable achievement in diversifying its ranks. Admiral Kumar highlighted the graduation of the first batch of Agniveers from INS Chilka in March this year.
He emphasized, “With the third batch, which has just been inducted, we have now crossed over 1000 women affiliates in the navy.
Addressing a press conference ahead of Navy Day, Admiral Kumar reiterated the Indian Navy’s commitment to ‘all roles and all ranks’ for women, encompassing officers and personnel below the officer rank.
He reflected on the accomplishments of the past year, stating, “Take a look at the year gone by, and you’d agree that 2023 has been a remarkable year for our nation. Similarly, for the navy too, the last year has been remarkable.
Admiral Kumar outlined the high operational tempo sustained by the Indian Navy’s ships, submarines, and aircraft in the strategic waters over the last year. The Navy’s presence across the Indo-Pacific region and operational exercises involving more than 151 units were highlighted as key achievements.
“Our ships have been persistently present across the Indo-Pacific region. Submarines have undertaken operational turnarounds at foreign ports in Oman, Australia, and Indonesia,” stated Admiral Kumar.
The Indian Navy’s focus on maintaining readiness and its commitment to diversity underscore its continued evolution as a formidable force.
