The Indian Navy on Tuesday said that up to 20 per cent of the first batch of 'Agniveers' - military recruits under the government's 'Agnipath' scheme - will be women, subject to their meeting qualification criteria.
The Navy began recruitment under the 'Agnipath' scheme on July 1 and on Monday government officials told ANI that around 10,000 women candidates had already applied.
"The Agnipath scheme in the Navy will be gender-neutral. As we speak, 30 women officers are sailing on frontline warships," Navy officials had said.
This will be the first time the Navy will allow women as sailors who can be deployed on warships as per operational requirements, according to ANI.
"We have decided the time has come to recruit women sailors… which will include women who will go to sea," Navy officials told ANI.
Meanwhile, over 2.7 lakh potential 'Agniveers' have applied to join the Air Force, for which recruitment ends today. The Air Force opened applications on June 24.
The Army began recruitment under the 'Agnipath' scheme on July 1 and rallies to enlist have been scheduled across the country.