The step is being seen as a major breakthrough for women in armed forces

The Indian Army on Thursday, for the first time, kicked off the process to recruit women as soldiers into the Military Police.

Opening up a new avenue for women, the Indian Army on Thursday started their online registration and also put out an advertisement for recruitment in the Corps of Military Police. This is the first time women will be inducted as soldiers in the force.

Women will be inducted in a graded manner to eventually comprise 20 per cent of total Corps of Military Police and their role will range from probing crime cases to assisting the army in field operations wherever required.

The newspaper advertisement for recruiting women into the Military Police

Accordingly, the Army chalked out induction of approximately 800 women in Military Police with a yearly intake of 52 personnel per year.

Online registration for the post of 'soldier general duty (women military police)' started on Thursday and the last date is June 8.

"Online registration will start today for the recruitment of women as Jawans and the last date for it is June 8. The project was first mooted by Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat soon after he took charge of the force," Army officers said. Last year, Indian Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat had said the process to allow women in a combat role, currently, an exclusive domain of men was moving fast and initially, women will be recruited for positions in Military Police.

Inducting women in combat roles came up in 2015 after Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government has taken a "historic" decision to induct women in the Military Police with an aim to enhance their representation in the three services.

The armed forces are also in the process of identifying issues that could be faced in inducting women in combat roles and opening more avenues for them.

According to government data, the Army has 3.80 per cent of its workforce as women, the Air Force has 13.09 per cent and the Navy six per cent.