On Monday, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi announced that the army is looking into how private messages from a senior officer about women commanders were leaked online. The messages discussed various issues related to women leading army units in the eastern region. General Dwivedi emphasized that women in the army are doing very well and are known for being mature and kind.
This news follows a letter written last October by Lieutenant General Rajeev Puri, a three-star officer, to Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari. General Puri’s letter expressed concerns about women commanding officers (COs). He mentioned problems like how they manage other officers and their sense of entitlement, empathy, and ambition.
General Dwivedi confirmed that the letter was supposed to be private and shouldn’t have been made public. He stated that women officers are increasingly taking on important roles, especially after the Supreme Court decided in 2023 that the army should allow women to command units outside medical roles. As a result, many women are now leading troops in areas that protect India’s borders with China.
General Dwivedi explained that when appointing women COs, some special arrangements were necessary because they had less experience than male officers. Now, there are 115 women COs, with 18 more ready to step into command roles. He highlighted Colonel Ponung Doming as a strong example of a woman CO doing remarkable work building infrastructure in tough areas like Ladakh.
Finally, General Dwivedi reassured everyone that women officers are performing excellently. Around 1,700 girls are also currently studying at military schools, which will prepare them for joining the army in the future.
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