Women in the Armed Forces and the concept of Social Justice

The gender composition of Armed Forces through ages is predominantly men. The medieval and modern history has accounts of women soldiers. Women were primarily enlisted as doctors and nurses. Women are now inducted as officers through the short service commission. All positions are non-combative. The Indian Armed Forces accepts women recruits only in the officer grade. Going by the constitutional obligation of social justice, there should not be any issue in opening up the portals of defense recruitment to women on par with men. In the light of the above the author tries to analyse implications objectively.