Delhi High Court Seeks Government Response on Gender Exclusion in Defence Academies via CDS Exam
The Delhi High Court has urged the central government to address a legal challenge concerning the exclusion of female candidates from enrolling in the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA) through the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination. Currently, women are eligible to apply only to the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai.
A judicial panel, headed by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay, highlighted the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that female officers are not being offered permanent positions within the Army. The case is scheduled for further hearing in November 2025.
The legal petition, submitted by advocate Kush Kalra, disputes the UPSC CDS-II 2025 notification released on May 28, which limits the application of female candidates exclusively to OTA. Graduates from IMA, AFA, and INA are eligible for permanent commissions, while the OTA provides only short service commissions, which last for 10 years and can be extended by four years. Training durations differ significantly, with IMA, AFA, and INA offering approximately 18 months of training compared to the OTA’s 49 weeks.
Kalra's petition claims this exclusion contravenes Articles 14, 16, and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, referencing the 2020 Supreme Court ruling that granted women equal rights to permanent commissions and command postings. It also cites the 2021 decision that permitted women to take the NDA exam.
The petition challenges the rationale behind women's restricted participation in CDS, despite their existing roles in combat-support and command positions, labeling the policy as discriminatory and unjustified. While women are not yet directly deployed in combat roles, the petitioner argues that limiting their entry to OTA curtails career opportunities and compromises gender equality within the armed forces.
