Do Women Commanders in the Indian Army Face a Training Gap? Leaked Letter Sparks Debate

A recent leaked letter from Lieutenant General Rajeev Puri, formerly commanding officer of the 17 Mountain Strike Corps, has reignited the debate over women officers in command roles in the Indian Army. Written on October 1, 2024, to Lt Gen. Ram Chander Tiwari, the letter highlights concerns about the performance of eight women colonels under Puri’s command, citing issues like "mundane ego issues," "lack of empathy," and a “my way or highway” approach to decision-making.

The letter suggests that these women officers, promoted to the rank of colonel in 2023, were not adequately trained for command roles, especially given their previous service under the Short Service Commission, which didn’t initially prepare them for leadership positions. Lt Gen. Puri noted that their service requirements and tasks were different from those of their male counterparts, which resulted in gaps in training, interpersonal relations, and understanding of troop hardships.

While some have criticized Puri’s observations as overly generalized and biased, others see them as highlighting necessary corrective measures for the evolving structure of gender parity in the military. Critics argue that the issues stem from historical training gaps, not inherent flaws in the women officers’ capabilities.

This controversy underscores the ongoing challenges in the Army’s transition towards gender-neutral command roles, as outlined in the 2020 Supreme Court ruling that granted women officers permanent commissions and command posts.