First Woman Non-Medical Air Marshal: Who Is Shakti Sharma, India’s New History-Maker?

Shakti is the first female officer in the Indian Armed Forces (IAF), under which the Defence Forces come, to accomplish this feat and break the glass ceiling.

By Sakshi

New Delhi, September 2: History was scripted by a first women officer (non-medical) in the Indian Defence Force, with Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma achieving the rank of Air Marshal or its equivalent.

Shakti is the first female officer in the Indian Armed Forces (IAF), under which the Defence Forces come, to accomplish this feat and break the glass ceiling. Female officers in the Army and Navy have attained the rank of Colonel and its equivalent so far.

AVM Sharma assumed charge as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff Education at Air Headquarters on Tuesday (sourced from X)

Who is AVM Shakti Sharma

AVM Sharma assumed charge as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff Education at Air Headquarters on Tuesday, said the Ministry of Defence in a statement. It added that this landmark achievement marks a new chapter in the journey of women officers in the defence forces.

The senior officer was commissioned into the IAF's Education Branch on June 18, 1994, and during her more than thirty years of meritorious service, she has worked in a variety of training facilities, field stations, command headquarters and Air Headquarters.

The Ministry of Defence statement noted that throughout her career, AVM Sharma has spearheaded key institutional initiatives, including establishing the IAF (Indian Air Force) Chairs of Excellence at IIT Kanpur and Pune University to drive academic and strategic defence collaboration.

She is also serving as Principal of Sainik School, Kapurthala. She is also the first woman officer from the tri-service to command a Sainik School.

One of the major reasons why women officers achieved this feat is attributed to the IAF officially granting permanent commission status to women officers in 2010. Since then, the IAF has streamlined opportunities for their promotion and career development, including their participation in various career courses.

The Army and Navy have also started granting permanent commission to women officers in selected army/service and branches in 2008. However, it was extended to multiple other branches in 2020 after the Supreme Court's intervention.

The fact that only one woman officer (non-medical) has attained the rank of Air Vice Marshal (AVM) reflects the highly competitive nature of career advancement in the Armed Forces. The competition is intense due to the limited number of vacancies as all officers progress through the ranks.

History Makes of Indian Air Forces

Over the years, women officers have recorded significant achievements. In 2023, the Air Force selected Group Captain Shaliza Dhami to take command of a frontline combat unit, making her the first woman officer in the IAF to command a missile squadron in the western sector facing Pakistan.

In 2026, Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth became the first woman pilot to clear the Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment in Gwalior.

And this year in May, Squadron Leader Saanya became the first woman officer in the Indian Air Force to earn the elite category - A Qualified Flying Instructor (Cat-AQFI) qualification.