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News18
6 days ago
- Business
- News18
Women In New India
Last Updated: Clearly, welfarism under Modi has truly been a means to empower women. From armed forces to entrepreneurship, women are taking charge across sectors Kiran Kumari from Bokaro in Jharkhand was a hawker. Now, she is a proud toy and gift shop owner after receiving a loan of Rs 2 lakh, thanks to PM Narendra Modi's flagship scheme, Mudra Yojana. Munirabanu Shabbir Hussain Malek from Surat received a Mudra loan of Rs 1.77 lakh, took LMV driving training, and is now earning Rs 25,000 per month by driving an auto rickshaw. Veena Devi from Kathua District of Jammu and Kashmir, who worked as a weaver, received a Mudra loan of Rs 1 lakh and is now one of the leading manufacturers of Pashmina shawls in her area. Clearly, welfarism under Modi has truly been a means to empower women. India now has over 1.76 lakh start-ups, with at least 45% of them being founded or co-founded by women entrepreneurs. The number of women seeking business loans has more than tripled in the last 11 years. If there is one area that has seen a sea change in terms of fabulous opportunities for women, it is women's participation in the Indian Armed Forces, with a renewed focus on inclusivity, equal opportunities, and breaking gender barriers. The Permanent Commission, for example, has now been extended to women officers in the Indian Army, allowing them to serve in command roles and have longer careers—previously limited to only Short Service Commission. Over 557 women officers have received Permanent Commissions. In 2021, the government removed gender barriers, allowing women to join the NDA, a significant step towards enabling women to train for officer roles in the armed forces from an early stage. In 2023, a proposal granting women soldiers, sailors, and air warriors the same leave terms as female officers—including 180 days of maternity leave, 360 days of childcare leave, and 180 days for child adoption—was approved. This aims to improve work-life balance and encourage more women to join the forces. The Modi government also opened combat roles for women, disrupting traditional restrictions. In 2015, the Indian Air Force began inducting women as fighter pilots, with Bhawana Kanth becoming the first woman qualified for combat missions in 2019. The Army approved women officers' induction into the Regiment of Artillery in 2023. The Navy has assigned women officers to ship duties and as pilots for Remotely Piloted Aircraft. The Agnipath recruitment scheme, introduced in 2022, includes women as Agniveers, enabling them to serve in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Navy has already started recruiting women, with the other services preparing to follow. The number of women in the armed forces has nearly tripled since 2014. As of 2023, over 7,000 women serve in the Army, 1,875 in the Air Force, and 748 in the Navy, including medical and dental officers. Women are now commissioned in multiple streams, such as Corps of Engineers, Army Aviation, and Intelligence Corps. The Modi government has celebrated milestones like Captain Abhilasha Barak becoming the first woman combat aviator in 2022 and Adaso Kapesa becoming the first woman officer in the Special Protection Group (SPG). The Navy appointed its first woman commanding officer on a naval ship in 2023. The Air Force has modernized facilities and launched DISHA cells to encourage women's participation. The Army inducted 83 women jawans into the Military Police Corps for the first time, enhancing their role in security operations. PM Modi has emphasized women's empowerment in the armed forces during speeches, such as on Navy Day 2023 in Sindhudurg and Diwali 2022 in Kargil, highlighting that women's induction boosts India's strength. To cut to the chase, contrary to popular perception, the BJP is a highly progressive and modern organization where meritocracy rules the roost. As the National Spokesperson of the BJP—and even much before I got into that role—I always found the BJP top brass to be very gender sensitive. No one till this day from the BJP has ever told me what to eat, what to wear, or how to conduct myself in public life. Better still, no one has even bothered to ask me what my sartorial preferences are or what cuisine I prefer, and that is exactly how it should be. Despite coming from a family of bankers and investment bankers, I have never felt like an outsider and have completely blended into the BJP's political and cultural milieu. That women are discriminated against or treated as a lesser species within the BJP is something you will find only in the utterly biased and trashy op-ed columns of The Washington Post or The New York Times, written by some junior, Leftist, Modi-hating editor. From defining the nation's first menstrual hygiene protocol, amending the Medical Termination Pregnancy Act of 1971, giving women reproductive rights over their bodies and increasing the foetal gestation period from 20 to 24 weeks, welcoming more women recruits in the NCC—which is being extended to border and coastal areas—to criminalizing the inhuman and unconstitutional practice of instant triple talaq and the bold decision to increase marriageable age from 18 to 21 years for women, the Modi government has truly exhibited a fearless, women-friendly approach that is both mature and modern, and something which no other government in post-Independent India can dare boast of. Banning commercial surrogacy, which had led to the mushrooming of illegal IVF and surrogacy clinics, was yet another bold move by the Modi government. Over 55% of beneficiaries under the PMJDY scheme are women. In the last 11 years, over 85 million—that is, over 8.5 crore women working in SHGs—have been provided with funds of over Rs 5.5 lakh crore. PM Modi's concept of Lakhpati Didis is redefining the very concept of wealth creation. Among the many services provided by Mahila-E-Haat are facilitating direct contact between vendors and buyers, and it is open to all Indian women above the age of 18. The Modi government's Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative is so much more than just a mission statement, best exemplified by the surge in the sex ratio at birth (SRB) in Haryana from 871 in 2015 to over 914 now, with districts like Panipat and Yamunanagar reporting SRB of 945 and 943 for every 1,000 males. The increase in overall sex ratio is a combination of increased life expectancy of women and improvement in the sex ratio at birth or the number of female births for every 1,000 male births. The overall sex ratio today stands at over 1,020 females for every 1,000 males (NFHS-5 data), with the number of females exceeding the number of males for the first time ever. That again is a good sign. Most importantly, India's 15th President, Droupadi Murmu, is the embodiment of how 'naari shakti' in Modi's India is essentially about the ability to dream, the willingness to work hard, and the determination to succeed, unwaveringly and undeterred. That Murmu is also the first tribal leader who is now India's First Citizen, as India celebrates 'Amrit Kaal', makes her achievements even more notable. Suffice to conclude that in Modi's India, a Santhali woman from a remote village in Mayurbhanj district in Odisha is today the proud occupant of Raisina Hill. That inspiring journey of Droupadi Murmu is also an ode to the farsightedness and astute vision of PM Modi, who remains one of the most popular and powerful leaders globally, and for good reason. top videos View all There is a famous quote by Samantha Shannon: 'No woman should ever be made to fear that she was not enough." Well, suffice to say, in Modi's New India, there is no limit to what we as women can accomplish. The world is our oyster. And we are just getting started. Sanju Verma is an Economist, National Spokesperson for BJP and Bestselling Author of 'The Modi Gambit'. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. tags : Droupadi Murmu independence day Narendra Modi view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 15, 2025, 15:26 IST News opinion Opinion | Women In New India – The Great Disruption Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The National
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Two Bilbao supporters given stadium ban after Rangers attack
Rangers faced the La Liga side in the quarter-finals of the Europa League earlier this year, where they exited the competition. The day before the match, Athletic Bilbao fans attacked groups of Rangers supporters and two were arrested. Read more: Spain's Permanent Commission of the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance in Sport met this week to discuss the incidents. And they announced they had punished the two unnamed Bilbao residents for the attack on Rangers fans, which left one hospitalised with a ban on sports stadiums in Spain for one year and a fine of £5,000. They stated: "Violence in sport has no place in Spain and severe measures have been taken." Rangers lost the game in April 2-0 under former boss Barry Ferguson.
Scroll.in
16-06-2025
- General
- Scroll.in
Indian Navy BTech entry 2025: Apply for 10+2 BTech course from June 30
The Indian Navy has invited applications from unmarried men and women for the 10+2 ( Cadet Entry Scheme (Permanent Commission) course, commencing in January 2026 at Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala. Interested candidates will be able to registerfrom June 30, 2025, at the official website The application window will remain open till July 14, 2025. This recruitment drive is for entry into the Executive and Technical branches, offering a total of 44 vacancies, including a maximum of 6 seats for women. Eligibility Criteria Educational Qualification: Applicants must have passed the Senior Secondary Examination (10+2 pattern) or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) and at least 70% aggregate marks, along with 50% marks in English in either Class X or XII. JEE Main 2025: Candidates must have appeared for the JEE (Main) 2025 exam. Selection for the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview will be based on the All India Common Rank List (CRL) published by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
United News of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
SC slams Navy for denying Permanent Commission to woman JAG Officer
New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) The Supreme Court has criticised the Indian Navy for not granting Permanent Commission (PC) to Commander Seema Chaudhary, a woman officer from the 2007 Short Service Commission (SSC) batch in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) branch, despite clear directions given earlier by the top judiciary. A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh took serious note of the Navy's inaction, making it clear that the court's previous direction to 'consider' the officer's case could not be used as an excuse to avoid action. 'Enough is enough… we give you one week to grant her Permanent Commission,' Justice Kant stated sternly during the hearing. The case revolves around Commander Seema Chaudhary, who has faced prolonged legal battles and filed nearly five petitions seeking justice. Her counsel, Senior Advocate Rekha Palli, argued that while male officers are inducted directly into Permanent Commission, women officers are only taken in through Short Service Commission. She added that currently, there are no women JAG officers in the Navy. After reviewing Chaudhary's service record and performance reports, the court questioned why she was denied PC, especially when she was found fit in all respects. In defence, Senior Advocate Dr. R. Balasubramanian, representing the Navy, pointed to three Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) that included adverse comments. However, the court noted that these ACRs had already been overruled by the reviewing authority. Justice Kant also criticised the bias reflected in the ACRs, implying a male superior had unfairly assessed the officer's work. 'She was graded well in all parameters, and one officer's personal opinion cannot undo her service,' he remarked. The bench reminded the Navy that a 2024 Supreme Court order had already directed reconsideration of the officer's case under Article 142 of the Constitution. The court had ordered that Chaudhary's case be decided independently, as she was the only 2007-batch JAG woman officer eligible for PC. The judgment also permitted the Navy to proportionally increase the number of PC vacancies to accommodate her, ensuring that no other officer would be displaced and that this move would not set a precedent. Justice Kant reminded the Navy's counsel, 'This is not about ego. The 2024 judgment has reached finality. It cannot be ignored at the whims of authorities.' The petitioner alleged that her PC was being denied as retaliation for a workplace harassment complaint she filed against a male officer. A Board of Inquiry reportedly found merit in her complaint, yet she was transferred within a day of filing it, while the accused officer remained in the same post. On the request of Dr. Balasubramanian to seek further instructions, the court agreed to list the matter for further hearing in the first week of July. UNI SNG SSP
The Wire
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
‘Make Transitional Arrangement': Supreme Court Asks Union Govt to Pause Release of Women Army Officers
Law The Wire Staff Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, representing one of the petitioners, noted that Colonel Sofiya Qureshi would not have been able to lead the 'Operation Sindoor' briefing had the court not enabled PC for women. View of the Supreme Court of India, in New Delhi. Photo: PTI. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Donate now New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday (May 9) asked the Union government not to release Short Service Commission (SSC) women Army officers who are challenging the denial of Permanent Commission (PC) to them, The Indian Express reported. The top court emphasised on keeping their morale high, particularly at a time when the government has been visibly platforming women in significant military roles. Presiding over a two-judge bench, Justice Surya Kant observed, 'There is some better place now for them to perform. As of date, we would like their morale to be kept high. Meantime, just utilise their services.' He added, 'It's not your case they are an unsuitable kind of officers,' and suggested making a 'transitional arrangement' until the matter is heard next in August, hinting at the current security climate by saying, 'At this juncture, let us not do something which…' This intervention comes as the government recently showcased women officers, such as Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Air Force, who have been jointly briefing the nation on 'Operation Sindoor' following military strikes. Notably, Col. Qureshi's achievements were acknowledged by the Supreme Court in its landmark February 17, 2020, judgment that granted PC to women officers. That ruling had strongly criticised the government's earlier stance, which had described women as 'physiologically unfit' in a note the court found perpetuated gender stereotypes and termed an 'insult not only to women but also to Indian Army.' During today's hearing, additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, for the Union government, argued that releasing SSC officers was an administrative decision based on a policy to keep the armed forces young, citing the Army's pyramidal structure. She also stated that women have fared 'far better' in securing PC since its full introduction. Representing Lt Col Geeta Sharma, one of the petitioners, senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy highlighted that Col. Qureshi herself would not have been able to lead the 'Operation Sindoor' briefing had the Supreme Court not enabled PC for women in the 2020 Babita Puniya case. Ms Guruswamy contended that administrative powers could not be an excuse for discrimination and pointed to alleged vacancies. The Supreme Court, while stating it was not ordering a stay on merits at this stage, stressed the need for a blend of young and experienced officers. Justice Kant remarked on the pride felt for officers serving in challenging conditions, noting, 'We now have far excellent officers. We feel proud of them.' The legal battle for women officers seeking PC has been protracted. Even after the 2020 judgment, which had underscored the need for 'administrative will and change in mindset' to overcome gender discrimination, women faced hurdles, including challenges over medical fitness criteria that the top court had previously questioned as potentially unjust. In October 2020, the Supreme Court, then including now-retired Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, had again intervened, noting a 'difference of thinking' between top leaders and Army bureaucracy regarding women's PC. The Supreme Court will hear the current petitions next in August, starting with the Army's case. Law Legal Victories, Lived Defeats: Disability Justice After the 'Courtroom Revolution' View More
