‘Not gender equality, but neutrality’: What the Army chief said on women in combat roles

Indian army chief General Upendra Dwivedi

• Army Chief says focus is on gender neutrality, not just gender equality
• Medical standards and operations challenge full gender neutrality.
• Army to evaluate women officers' uniform standards over next 3-4 years

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Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said that the force is moving towards gender neutrality rather than gender equality, stressing that women cannot be viewed as a “vulnerable commodity”.

Speaking at his first press conference of 2026, General Dwivedi said the Army’s approach was different from broader societal structures, which continue to be organised along gender lines.

“If we look at our society as of today, the society still has girls’ schools, boys’ schools, girls’ colleges, and boys’ colleges and the laws also, which are of a particular kind. As the Army is concerned, the Army is looking at not gender equality, but gender neutrality,” he said.

The Army chief acknowledged that achieving full gender neutrality remains a challenge due to existing medical standards and operational realities. He also pointed out that some women officers themselves have expressed concerns about meeting uniform benchmarks in certain combat roles.

“Today, I am not able to ensure gender neutrality because there are medical authorities which do not allow me and the team of composition, where the females also say no, sir, and me, it’s not possible,” General Dwivedi said, citing the example of CPT 26, where he had sought identical standards for all.

He added that the Army is now observing a “super excellent column” over the next three to four years to assess how many women officers and personnel are able to meet these standards.

“In three to four years, I will get to know how many female officers and other ranks are able to reach that level. If they’re able to reach that level, definitely we will open up firstly the supporting arms, which are not open, and then the arms, and then of course the special forces,” he said.

General Dwivedi described the process as a gradual shift driven by broader social change. “So it’s a social change. It’s a sequential change and a welcome change,” he added.