Permanent Commission to WOMEN Officers
Complete set of 4 nos. of commemorative postage stamps on the Permanent Commission to WOMEN Officers (WO) in Indian Army :
Issued by India
Issued on Jan 15, 2022
Issued for : This is a major step towards women empowerment where women can work side by side with men to save the borders of this great nation and to protect the nations. Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Permanent Commission to Women Officers in Indian Army.
Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheet/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Shri Brahm Prakash
Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition
Colour : Multi Colour
Denomination : 1000 Paise (2), 1500 Paise (2)
Stamps Printed : 202450 Each Type
Miniature Sheets Printed : 111000
Printing Process : Wet Offset
Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad
About :
- Women officers were commissioned in Indian Army as officers in Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps and Military Nursing Service since Indeendence and in Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Army Education Corps and Judge Advocate General Department since 1992 through Women Special Entry Scheme (WSES). After a 24 weeks training, they were commissioned for a period of five years. Short Service Commission (SSC) for men was in vogue since 1964 for all Arms and Services included a 49-week training after which they became eligible for a five year tenure extendable by another five years i.e. (5+5). Men could also opt for Permanent Commission after SSC, upon screening by Selection Boards. Such an option for Permanent Commission (PC) was not available to women officers under WSES.
- However, in 1996, the tenure of women officers was extended by five years and induction commenced in Corps of Engineers, Corps of Signals, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Intelligence Corps and Army Air Defence. In 2004, the tenure was further extended by another four years. Later in 2006, the terms and conditions of service of women officers were revised and the contract was made 10 years extendable by four years (10+4). WSES scheme was terminated and induction of women officers was commenced through SSCW (Tech) and SSCW (Non-Technical) with pre-commission training of 49 weeks and subsequent time scale promotions up to Lt Col at par with male Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOS).
- In 2008, Government of India approved PC for women officers in AEC and JAG which materialized in 2010, after which the women officers commissioned in balance eight Arms and Services sought PC at par with their male counterparts. On 15 Aug 2018, the Hon’ble PM announced that women officers would be eligible for consideration for grant of PC in the balance eight Arms and Services. A Govt Sanction Letter (GSL) was issued on 25 Feb 2019 for the purpose. This was followed by Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directions on 17 Feb 2020 for the same. On 16 Jul 2020, GSL was issued granting consideration for PC to women officers at par with their male counterparts. Accordingly, a Special Selection Board was held in Sept 2020 and it approved 422 out of 615 women officers for grant of PC. The Chief of Army Staff on 15 Jan 2021 further announced that women officers would be eligible to be commissioned in Army Aviation as Pilots.
- Text : Based on information received from the proponent.
