Meet Yashasvi Solanki: The First Woman Navy Officer Appointed as President’s Aide-de-Camp

In a landmark moment that will echo through the halls of Indian military history, Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki has shattered yet another glass ceiling by becoming the first woman officer from the Indian Navy to be appointed as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President of India—the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

This historic appointment is more than just a personal milestone; it is a symbolic leap forward for gender inclusion and equal opportunity within India’s armed forces.

The role of an Aide-de-Camp is one of immense prestige and responsibility. ADCs act as personal staff officers to the President, orchestrating smooth communication, ensuring protocol, and assisting with daily ceremonial and operational duties. Traditionally, the President is served by five ADCs—three from the Army, one from the Navy, and one from the Air Force.

Also Read: Meet Harsimran Kaur: From JEE Aspirant to NDA Trailblazer

Lieutenant Commander Solanki’s selection to this elite post not only breaks the norms of a male-dominated tradition but also highlights the Indian Navy’s commitment to recognizing merit over gender.

Solanki's achievement is part of a broader transformation within the Indian Armed Forces, where women are increasingly being entrusted with leadership, combat, and ceremonial roles. In recent years, women officers have been posted as ADCs to Governors, Army Commanders, and Service Chiefs. This appointment is yet another feather in the cap of the Indian Navy’s progressive strides.

Her role as the President’s ADC is not just ceremonial—it places her at the very core of the nation’s most prestigious constitutional office, serving as a bridge between military protocol and the highest office of the Republic.

The appointment comes close on the heels of a major structural shift in the defence services, aimed at greater jointness and theatre command integration. From January 2025, the tradition of ADCs serving only within their own services was revised. Now, personal staff officers to the Chiefs of Army, Navy, and Air Force can come from sister services—a move reflecting India’s vision of a unified, interoperable armed force.

This transformation is rooted in reforms spearheaded by the late General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, whose legacy continues to shape the future of India's military leadership.

Yashasvi Solanki’s journey is now an emblem of what’s possible when talent, discipline, and resilience meet opportunity. Her name will be etched alongside other trailblazing women officers who are steadily reshaping the landscape of Indian defence.

Her presence at Rashtrapati Bhavan as the President’s ADC sends a powerful message to every aspiring woman in uniform—that no role is out of reach, and no ambition is too lofty.

As the naval ensign flutters proudly, Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki stands not just as an officer of the Navy but as a beacon of progress for an entire generation of women.

She didn’t just earn her place in a position of honour—she made history doing it.