Form of words:
New Delhi: The Defense Ministry has informed the Supreme Court that a notification allowing women candidates to appear in the entrance test at the National Defense Academy (NDA) will be issued by May next year.
Keeping in view the time-limit, there is a need for deliberate planning and careful preparation to ensure smooth entry and uninterrupted training of such women candidates, the ministry said.
“The Government of India, in line with its commitment, takes on record its unequivocal and unequivocal stand that women candidates will be considered for admission to the three Defense Services in the existing streams through the National Defense Academy,” it said in a statement. Affidavit filed in the top court.
NDA entrance exam is conducted twice a year and the government proposes to put in place the necessary mechanism by May 2022, by which time UPSC will have to publish the first notification for the exam next year.
A study group has been constituted by the Defense Services, consisting of experts, to expeditiously devise a comprehensive curriculum for women cadets in the NDA, to propose a holistic and futuristic approach to women’s training, it said. A board of officers has been called. Cadets in NDA covering all relevant aspects.
The Center had earlier told the apex court that the armed forces have decided to include women in the NDA.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, informed that it has been decided at the highest level of the government along with the armed forces that women will be inducted for permanent commission through NDA.
The top court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Kush Kalra, which has raised the issue of exclusion of eligible and interested women candidates from joining the prestigious NDA on the basis of sex only, which allegedly violates the fundamental right to equality. is a violation.
The petition states that the authorities allow unmarried male candidates having sufficient 10+2 qualifications to appear for the ‘National Defense Academy and Naval Academy Examination’, but deserving and willing female candidates to appear for the examination on the basis of their gender and without Not allowed. Any just or just explanation within the Constitution.
It alleged that this act of discrimination is an insult to the constitutional values of equality and non-discrimination by the authorities concerned.
The petition states that UPSC conducts the ‘National Defense Academy and Naval Academy Examination’ and as per the eligibility criteria, any unmarried male candidate having the required educational qualification and in the age group of 15-18 years can appear.
The petition states that the candidate, on passing the examination and successful completion of training in NDA and subsequent training in the respective academy of the service, shall enable the cadet to be commissioned into the service as a permanent commissioned officer till the age of 19-22 years. goes. year old.
This opportunity is not available to the eligible and interested women candidates in the age group of 15-18 years with eligible educational qualifications to take the NDA and Naval Academy Examination and the sole reason for this graded exclusion is on the basis of their gender, the petition said.
It claimed that the duration of training for short service commission women officers is much less than that of a male permanent commission officer who gets admission through the NDA.
Read also: Center says women can join National Defense Academy, tells SC, needs time to implement change
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