Article Posted on : - Feb 25, 2016

NEW DELHI (PTI): Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said that induction of women into the fighter stream of the armed forces will be done in a phased manner.

The timeline of induction of women into combat roles will be decided after taking into account issues related to their training and accommodation, he said.

"We have made our view very clear. It is the timelines which we have to decide. Timeline has to be decided about many factors like facilities or position for it. You also need training facilities...You need accommodation facilities," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event organised by the Defence Innovators and Industry Associations.

President Pranab Mukherjee, while addressing a joint session of Parliament on Tuesday, had spoken about plans to induct women in all military combat roles in the future.

"Government has approved the induction of women as Short Service Commission officers and as fighter pilots into IAF. In the future, government will induct women into all the fighter streams of our armed forces," Mukherjee had said in his address to Parliament.

The Indian Air Force is the first armed force in the country to recruit women for the fighter stream. Navy is planning to induct women as pilots for its surveillance aircrafts.