At the 79th Independence Day celebration at the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was assisted in unfurling the national flag by Flying Officer Rashika Sharma. The ceremony, a testament to India's evolving military landscape, highlighted the increasing role of women in the armed forces.

Flying Officer Rashika Sharma assisted the Prime Minister in hoisting the National Flag.

It was synchronised with the 21-Gun Salute by the valiant gunners of the 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial).

Jai Hind#IndependenceDay #IndependenceDay2025 pic.twitter.com/e2E9zop5uI
— Akash Sharma (@kaidensharmaa) August 15, 2025

Flying Officer Rashika Sharma assisted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in hoisting the national flag at the Red Fort for India's 79th Independence Day. She is a 27-year-old Flying Officer from the 2021-22 batch of the Indian Air Force. She hails from Jaipur and is a state-level basketball player who represented Himachal Pradesh. Before joining the IAF, she was preparing for the Civil Services. Her father, Kamal Kishore Sharma, is a retired government employee.

Women Officers in Commanding Positions

The participation of Flying Officer Rashika Sharma in the Independence Day ceremony is a powerful symbol of the paradigm shift occurring in India's defense services. For decades, women were largely restricted to non-combat roles, but a series of policy changes and judicial rulings have paved the way for them to take on leadership positions, including in combat units.

Here are some of the pioneering women officers who have shattered the glass ceiling in the Indian armed forces:

Group Captain Shaliza Dhami

She holds the distinction of being the first woman officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF) to be appointed to command a frontline combat unit. A helicopter pilot with over 2,800 hours of flying experience, she took over a missile squadron in the Western sector in March 2023. Her achievement marks a significant step towards gender parity in the IAF.

Commander Prerna Deosthalee

In a historic first for the Indian Navy, Commander Prerna Deosthalee became the first woman to command a naval warship, the Waterjet Fast Attack Craft INS Trinkat. Her appointment in December 2023 was a landmark moment, as she took charge of a vessel with an all-male crew, demonstrating the Navy's commitment to "all roles-all ranks" for female personnel.

Lieutenant General Punita Arora

A trailblazer in the truest sense, she was the first woman officer in the Indian Armed Forces to achieve the three-star rank of Lieutenant General. She later became the first woman to be elevated to the rank of Vice Admiral in the Indian Navy, holding the distinction of being the first woman to hold the second-highest rank in both the Army and Navy.

Air Marshal Padma Bandopadhyay

She was the first woman officer in the Indian Air Force to be promoted to the three-star rank of Air Marshal. She was also the first woman to become a flight surgeon in the IAF and the first woman to conduct scientific research at the North Pole.

Captain Shiva Chauhan

A key figure in breaking barriers, Captain Shiva Chauhan of the Indian Army's Corps of Engineers became the first woman officer to be operationally deployed at the Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battlefield. Her deployment in January 2023 was a historic moment, as she was assigned to the Kumar Post at over 15,000 feet, where she underwent rigorous training in survival and combat to serve in the extremely harsh climate.

Wing Commander Deepika Misra

In a powerful testament to her courage and skill, Wing Commander Deepika Misra was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) in April 2023, making her the first woman IAF officer to receive a gallantry award. As a helicopter pilot, she was recognized for her "exceptional courage" during a humanitarian aid and disaster relief operation in response to floods in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Major Suman Gawani

While not a recent commanding position, Major Suman Gawani’s achievement is worth noting for its global significance. In 2020, she became the first Indian Army officer to win the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. As a military observer in South Sudan, she was recognized for her efforts to promote a gender perspective in peacekeeping operations and for mentoring over 230 UN military observers on conflict-related sexual violence.

The First Three Women Fighter Pilots

The induction of women into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in 2016 was a landmark decision. The first three women to become fighter pilots—Flight Lieutenant Avani Chaturvedi, Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth, and Flight Lieutenant Mohana Singh Jitarwal—have all gone on to achieve significant milestones. Avani Chaturvedi, for instance, became the first woman fighter pilot to participate in an aerial wargame abroad, taking part in an exercise with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in early 2023.

The Indian Army has also been assigning women officers to command roles in combat-support arms, with around 50 officers approved for promotion to the rank of Colonel in branches like Engineers, Signals, and Ordnance.

These women are not just symbols; they are active leaders proving their mettle in high-pressure environments. Their journeys reflect a broader shift in the armed forces, where merit and capability are increasingly the sole criteria for career progression, regardless of gender.

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