In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that women are entitled to the same permanent commission opportunities as men in the Indian Army. The ruling came after several women officers challenged the denial of promotions and permanent positions despite exemplary service. The court observed that institutional bias and systemic hurdles were violating constitutional guarantees of equality. It directed the Ministry of Defence to review and correct its selection criteria, calling the current system opaque and arbitrary. Activists and military veterans hailed the judgment as a significant step toward gender parity in India’s defense forces. Women officers currently serve in logistics, intelligence, and engineering roles, and the ruling opens pathways into command and combat support units. The court emphasized that merit, not gender, should determine eligibility. The decision aligns with earlier reforms in the Navy and Air Force, where women have already begun flying fighter jets and commanding frontline ships.