SC Allows Women to Appear for the NDA Exam

The Supreme Court passed an interim landmark order on August 18 allowing women to take the NDA entrance exam, which will be held on September 5. The admission is subject to the final orders of the court. The court has ordered the UPSC to issue a corrigendum notification and “give due publicity" in this regard. 

The court also chided the Indian Army for its 'discriminatory policies', while responding to Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati who said that out of the 3 modes of entry into the army, women were allowed through 2 - IMA and Officers' Training Academy. This is because of the policy decisions and the fact, that it is a matter of national security after all.

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The order was passed by Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy, who were hearing a PIL challenging the centre's policy of not allowing women candidates to sit for the NDA and Naval Academy Examination. The court called it a 'mindest problem' which was even during the permanent commission judgment, and that needs to be changed. The bench observed that the Army does not do things itself till the time judiciary doesn't intervene. This was in reference to a recent ruling by Justice Chandrachud, which stated that the government should make sure that women short service officers are granted permanent commission in the Army, including command postings.

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A writ petition was filed in this regard by Kush Kalra to seek permission for women to sit for the NDA exam. The petition mentions violation of articles 14,15,16 and 19 of the Indian Constitution by not letting eligible women join the National Defence Academy. While men who clear the exam are granted permanent commission in India's armed forces, women are only considered for a permanent commission in the later stages of their career after being recruited as Short Service Commission Officers in the first place.