Over 10,000 female candidates register for Indian Navy in 3 days under Agnipath recruitment: Report

New Delhi: The Indian Navy commenced the registration process under the newly launched Agnipath recruitment scheme on July 1 this month, and if reports are to be believed, over 10,000 females have applied for the position within 3 days.

The ocean branch of the Indian Military has begun registration for its recruitment process in the online mode from the very first date of the ongoing month, while the candidates will be able to fill out detailed application forms online from July 15 – 30.

Indian Navy’s current recruitment drive under the Agnipath scheme happens to be significant in the manner as this is the first time it is allowing women soldiers to join as sailors in the force. These women sailors will also be deployed for Navy’s operational works on the warships.

Though, the ocean wing is yet to decide the total number of female candidates it will be inducting in the force among the 3000 naval ‘Agniveers’ for the year 2022.

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A government official told news agency ANI, “Around 10,000 female candidates had registered themselves till Sunday”.

Navy is reportedly preparing its INS Chilka for providing basic training to the selected candidates in November this year. Arrangements have also been made to facilitate training for the female sailors on the Naval ship.

Talking about the fresh recruitment drive under the Agnipath scheme, the official further said, “The Agnipath scheme in the Navy will be gender-neutral. As we speak, 30 women officers are sailing on board frontline warships. We have decided that the time has come to recruit women sailors as well, and in all trades which will include women who will go to sea”.

For the unversed, the Indian Armed forces has been recruiting women soldiers since 1990s, though all the positions have been of the officer ranks. Though a historical change was introduced during 2019-20, where the Indian Army unrolled vacancies of women in others ranks as well.

At present, nearly 100 female soldiers are working at the Corps of Military Police (CMP).