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Hans India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Permanent Commission To Women Army Officers: SC cited Sofiya as example 5 yrs before Operation Sindoor
New Delhi: While ruling in favour of granting Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers in the Indian Army, the Supreme Court in 2020 had acknowledged the achievements of Col Sofia Qureshi, one of the two women officers who briefed the media on 'Operation Sindoor' on Wednesday. In its February 17, 2020, judgement, the top court said that absolute exclusion of women from all positions, except staff assignments, in the Army was indefensible and their blanket non-consideration for command appointments without any justification cannot be sustained in law. The apex court, which allowed Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers in the Army, said an absolute prohibition of women Short Service Commission (SSC) officers to obtain anything but staff appointments evidently did not fulfil the purpose of granting PC as a means of career advancement in the Army. The top court also referred to the distinctions achieved by women officers and put out an example of Col Qureshi's achievements. "Lt Col Sophia Qureshi (Army Signal Corps) is the first woman to lead an Indian Army contingent at a multi-national military exercise named 'Exercise Force 18', which is the largest ever foreign military exercise hosted by India. "She has served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in Congo in 2006, where she, along with others, was in charge of monitoring ceasefires in those countries and aiding in humanitarian activities. Her job included ensuring peace in the conflict affected areas," the apex court had said. Taking note of the Centre's affidavit in the matter, the court had said that the counter affidavit contained a detailed elaboration of the service rendered by women SSC officers to the cause of the nation, working shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. "Yet, that role is sought to be diluted by the repeated pleas made before this court that women, by the nature of their biological composition and social milieu, have a less important role to play than their male counterparts. "Such a line of submission is disturbing as it ignores the solemn constitutional values which every institution in the nation is bound to uphold and facilitate. Women officers of the Indian Army have brought laurels to the force," the apex court had said. During the media briefing on Wednesday, Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force (IAF) flanked Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on the dais, who delivered the opening statement from the government.
News18
08-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
When SC Praised Col Sofiya Qureshi In Granting Permanent Commission To Women Army Officers
Last Updated: SC referred to the distinctions achieved by women officers, and put out an example of Col Qureshi's achievements while granting permanent commission to women officers in 2020. While ruling in favour of granting Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers in the Indian Army, the Supreme Court in 2020 had acknowledged the achievements of Colonel Sofia Qureshi, one of the two women officers who briefed the media on 'Operation Sindoor' on Wednesday. In its February 17, 2020, judgement, the top court said that absolute exclusion of women from all positions, except staff assignments, in the Army was indefensible and their blanket non-consideration for command appointments without any justification cannot be sustained in law. The apex court, which allowed Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers in the Army, said an absolute prohibition of women Short Service Commission (SSC) officers to obtain anything but staff appointments evidently did not fulfil the purpose of granting PC as a means of career advancement in the Army. The top court also referred to the distinctions achieved by women officers, and put out an example of Col Qureshi's achievements. "Lieutenant Colonel Sophia Qureshi (Army Signal Corps) is the first woman to lead an Indian Army contingent at a multi-national military exercise named 'Exercise Force 18', which is the largest ever foreign military exercise hosted by India. "She has served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in Congo in 2006, where she, along with others, was in charge of monitoring ceasefires in those countries and aiding in humanitarian activities. Her job included ensuring peace in the conflict affected areas," the apex court had said. Taking note of the Centre's affidavit in the matter, the court had said that the counter affidavit contained a detailed elaboration of the service rendered by women SSC officers to the cause of the nation, working shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. "Yet, that role is sought to be diluted by the repeated pleas made before this court that women, by the nature of their biological composition and social milieu, have a less important role to play than their male counterparts. "Such a line of submission is disturbing as it ignores the solemn constitutional values which every institution in the nation is bound to uphold and facilitate. Women officers of the Indian Army have brought laurels to the force," the apex court had said. During the media briefing on Wednesday, Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force (IAF) flanked Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on the dais, who delivered the opening statement from the government. The briefing came hours after the Indian armed forces, under 'Operation Sindoor', carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Born in Gujarat's Vadodara in 1974, Col Qureshi graduated with a Master's in biochemistry from the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in 1997. An officer in the critical Corps of Signals, in the past, she had been picked for the role of a military observer in Congo in 2006, besides being part of flood relief operations in the Northeast region. The officer broke the glass ceiling when in 2016, she became the first woman officer to lead its contingent at the multi-national field training exercise, Exercise Force 18, hosted by India for interoperability in sustaining peace among the ASEAN nations. PTI) First Published: May 08, 2025, 17:19 IST
Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Operation Sindoor: Internet hails Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, IAF Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who led media briefing
Amid the high-voltage tension between India and Pakistan, the Internet is abuzz with plaudits for Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, the officers who led the media briefing in New Delhi, hours after India conducted a series of strikes – dubbed Operation Sindoor – on terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes were launched in response to the harrowing terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, that killed at least 26 tourists. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO Several social media users hailed Colonel Qureshi and IAF Wing Commander Singh for a powerful media briefing, sending a strong message to the world. '2 women officers of 2 different religions coming together to address the nation after India demolished Pakistan by #OperationSindoor. What brilliant messaging by the Indian Armed Forces, picture perfect. This is the unity that the terrorists wanted to break after Pahalgam, they just ended up uniting us even more,' a user wrote. See here: 2 women officers of 2 different religions coming together to address the nation after India demolished Pakistan by #OperationSindoor 🔥 What brilliant messaging by the Indian Armed Forces, picture perfect. 👏🏻 This is the unity that the terrorists wanted to break after Pahalgam,… — Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) May 7, 2025 'Operation Sindoor briefing done by two women officers from two different religions- Col Sofiya Qureshi and Wg Cdr Vyomika Singh. Excellent messaging,' another X user posted. Operation Sindoor briefing done by two women officers from two different religions- Col Sofiya Qureshi and Wg Cdr Vyomika Singh. Excellent messaging. — Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) May 7, 2025 'Naari Shakti (Women empowerment),' a third user said. Naari Shakti 🔥 — Aaraynsh (@aaraynsh) May 7, 2025 Who is Colonel Sophia Qureshi? Colonel Sophia Qureshi has a strong military background. Her grandfather, too, served in the Indian Army. She is married to an officer with the mechanised infantry. Born in Gujarat, she pursued a postgraduate degree in biochemistry. In 1999, she was deployed as a lieutenant for the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. In 2016, she created history as the first woman to command an Indian Army contingent in a multinational military exercise. In 2006, she served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in Congo. 'On these missions, we monitor the ceasefires in those countries and also aid in the humanitarian activities. The job is to ensure peace in the conflict-affected areas,' she told Who is Wing Commander Vyomika Singh? According to The Economic Times, Wing Commander Singh pursued engineering and joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC). She has operated helicopters Chetak and Cheetah in some of the toughest terrains. In 2019, she was deployed as a helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force and received a permanent commission in the flying branch. In 2020, she led one of the major missions in Arunachal Pradesh, which was conducted in difficult weather and at high altitude.
India.com
07-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Operation Sindoor: Who is Lt Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and why is she trending on social media
Who is Lt Colonel Sophia Qureshi After India targeted at least nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during Operation Sindoor, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, addressed the media. The presence of two women officers in this official briefing marked a powerful and symbolic moment. It also showed the country's respect and support for the widows of the brave soldiers who lost their lives in the horrific Pahalgam attack on April 22. Who is Lt Colonel Sofiya Qureshi Lieutenant Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is a distinguished officer in the Indian Army's Corps of Signals. She made history by becoming the first woman to lead an Indian Army contingent at a multinational military exercise. Hailing from Gujarat, Lt Col Qureshi was commissioned into the Indian Army through the Officers Training Academy in 1999. She comes from a family with a strong military background, which inspired her to pursue a career in the armed forces. She is married to an officer from the Mechanised Infantry. Her early assignments included various postings across India, including in counter-insurgency areas, where she served in signal regiments. In 2006, Lt Col Qureshi served as a military observer in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in Congo. This experience involved monitoring ceasefires and aiding in humanitarian activities to ensure peace in conflict-affected areas. In March 2016, Lt Col Qureshi led a 40-member Indian Army contingent at 'Exercise Force 18,' the largest foreign military exercise hosted by India. The exercise, held in Pune, saw participation from 18 ASEAN Plus countries, including China, the USA, Russia, Japan, and South Korea. Her role was pivotal in training troops for Peacekeeping Operations and Humanitarian Mine Action. She was the only woman officer among all the participating contingents.
India.com
07-05-2025
- General
- India.com
Operation Sindoor: Who is Lt Colonel Sophia Qureshi and why is she trending on social media
Lieutenant Colonel Sophia Qureshi is a distinguished officer in the Indian Army's Corps of Signals. She made history by becoming the first woman to lead an Indian Army contingent at a multinational military exercise. Hailing from Gujarat, Lt Col Qureshi was commissioned into the Indian Army through the Officers Training Academy in 1999. She comes from a family with a strong military background, which inspired her to pursue a career in the armed forces. Her early assignments included various postings across India, including in counter-insurgency areas, where she served in signal regiments. In 2006, Lt Col Qureshi served as a military observer in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in Congo. This experience involved monitoring ceasefires and aiding in humanitarian activities to ensure peace in conflict-affected areas. Her work in such challenging environments highlighted her commitment to global peace and security. In March 2016, Lt Col Qureshi led a 40-member Indian Army contingent at 'Exercise Force 18,' the largest foreign military exercise hosted by India. The exercise, held in Pune, saw participation from 18 ASEAN Plus countries, including China, the USA, Russia, Japan, and South Korea. Her role was pivotal in training troops for Peacekeeping Operations and Humanitarian Mine Action. She was the only woman officer among all the participating contingents, reflecting her exceptional capabilities and breaking gender barriers in the military.
