The center has decided to allow girls in Indian Military Colleges and Rashtriya Military schools which have been boys’ institutions so far. The Defence Ministry has presented an affidavit to the Supreme Court of India stating the induction of girls to RIMC and RMS from the next session. It has been stated in the affidavit that government will provide administrative support and infrastructure and also will authorize additional vacancies in a phased manner.

The decision of the center will pave the way for girls who aspire to go into the Military field. Earlier, the center took a historic decision and allowed women candidates in National Defence Academy, for which the admission process will be conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.

How the process will take place

• Girls will be allowed to take all-India entrance exam which will be conducted next year in June.
• All states and Union Territories will compete for an average 25 seats twice a year for Rashtriya Indian Military College.
• The admmission will take place in phsed manner.
• As per the governent’s decision, the capacitywill be increased from 250 to 300 by inducting five girls every six months in phase one.
• In the phase two, the capacity will be increased from 300 to 350 girls by inducting ten girls every six months.
• Finally, at the end of the expansion RIMC will have 250 boys and 100 girls.
• The final expansion will be done by 2027.

The government has also declared girls will be allowed to take admission in the Residential public Schools Rashtriya Military Schools from class sixth to twelve. In these schools, the entry will be conducted in a phased manner as in the first phase, ten percent of seats in class six will be reserved for girls from next year.

In 2019, Union Defence Minister Rajath Singh approved the admission of girls in Sainik Schools in a phased manner. In light of the success of the pilot project started by the Defense Ministry to admit girls in Sainik school Chhingchhip in Mizoram, the decision was taken. The purpose of these decisions is to promote gender equality, inclusiveness, and empowering women.

The Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) has a rich heritage as it has given eminent leaders to the society both military and civil as well. With a vision to provide Indian Boys with the necessary training and education, it ensures a high pass rate for the Indians being sent to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, as part of the Indianisation program of the Officer cadre of the Indian Army.

RIMC was not a college but a pre-Sandhurst institution run along the lines of an English Public School. The British were of the opinion that Public School education was a must for Indian Boys so that their upbringing could make them suitable for the rigors and discipline of army life.

With this vision, the College groom young cadets to become selected military leaders of tomorrow. There are five Rashtriya Military Schools in the country which are considered as feeder institutions for NDA and RIMC is a ‘Nursery of Leadership’ for institutions like NDA, Khadakvasla, Officers’ Training Academy, and Indian Military Academy.