During the media briefing on Operation Sindhur by the Indian Armed Forces, two prominent figures emerged: Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh. With exceptional dedication, they took charge, displaying remarkable patience and courage. From the battlefield to the boardroom, Indian women are taking leadership roles, a transformation that hasn't occurred overnight.
India Today's Data Intelligence Unit analyzed the number of women in the armed forces and found continual changes. Across India, women constitute about 10 percent of police forces. Women's participation in the armed forces has increased over the decades, yet representation still lags behind where it should be.
In various state civil police forces, women make up a greater share (15 percent), but in specialized units like the National Security Guards (NSG), their numbers are sparse (0.7 percent).
Source: aajtak
Women's representation in the Indian Army rose from 3.8 percent in 2020 to 4.1 percent in 2024. In the Air Force, it remains steady at about 13.4 percent, while in the Navy, it increased from 5.5 percent to 6.8 percent.
Women in the Startup Ecosystem
Women are taking on leadership roles in business, making their mark in once male-dominated positions. The number of startups recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade with at least one woman director surged from 36 percent in 2017 to 51 percent in 2024. States like Maharashtra (14,284 startups), Delhi (8,012 startups), and Karnataka (8,000 startups) are emerging as hubs of women-led entrepreneurship.
Source: aajtak
This transformation is evident even at managerial levels. Over the past decade, leadership roles largely dominated by men have seen steadily increasing female presence. From 2017 to 2025, women's numbers in boardrooms doubled from 450,000 to 910,000, and representation in senior-level management grew from 23,685 to 38,745. Similarly, in other managerial roles, women's numbers increased from 430,000 to 880,000. However, their overall share in all roles shows only a slight increase.
Where Are Women in the Judicial Arena?
Women’s representation in the judiciary is crucial. As of December 2024, of the total sanctioned (1,122) judicial positions in India’s Supreme and High Courts, only 6 percent (2) in the Supreme Court and 14 percent (106) in High Courts are held by women. However, in civil services, about one in four selected candidates is a woman. In 2021, women comprised 27 percent of selected candidates, a significant jump from 21 percent a decade ago.
These figures illuminate not just a story of participation but of determination. The increase in women's representation is a testament to their resilience and the evolving government policies. The presence of two female defense officers as spokespersons for Operation Sindhur demonstrates that on the gender equality front, progress is indeed being made.
