With the Centre’s decision to allow women to be inducted for permanent commission through the National Defence Academy (NDA), one more barrier to gender equality has fallen. This is indeed “a rather delightful piece of news”, as additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati put it while appearing for the Centre before the Supreme Court (SC). The SC has consistently cleared the path for women to join the armed forces in larger numbers, while urging the forces to adopt a more proactive approach towards gender equality. The apex court had passed an interim order last month permitting women to sit for the NDA admission exam, which is now scheduled for November 4. This welcome change must now be buttressed by changes in policy, procedure, training, and infrastructure, for which the Centre has sought that women’s entry be put off for a year. NDA’s policy, so far, has been exclusionary. The decision to induct women will be, hopefully, put an end to the prejudices voiced over the years on why women are not suited for a career in the armed forces. This includes dubious reasons revolving around how women will not be accepted as leaders by a male- dominated force, or how physical constraints prevent them from a role, or that they may seek special treatment, or that the armed forces lack suitable infrastructure, or that women might be subject to various forms of harassment. None of these are the fault of women and none of these are insurmountable, in fact, they point to structural flaws within the forces itself. The Centre’s decision to admit girls to Sainik schools, along with the latest move vis-à-vis, NDA entry, suggests that the blueprint for substantive change has been now been created, This will allow the armed forces to choose from a much wider pool of talent. Gender does not come in the way of technical skills, decision-making or mental strength, all of which are necessary attributes in a modern army. With its latest decision, the Centre and armed forces have upheld the constitutional provisions of equality, equal opportunities in public employment, freedom to practice a profession and non- discrimination. This will make the armed forces not just more inclusive but more efficient in the long-run. The SC had earlier said, in the context of creating more space for women in the armed forces that is recognized that reforms cannot happen in a day. But thanks to its tireless nudging, the foundations for more gender-inclusive armed forces have now been laid.MEANINGS AND WORDSInducted (verb) – Admit (someone) formally to a post or organizationSynonyms – Initiated, conscripted, ordained, armature, broached
Antonyms – Abolished, heedless, ignored, impulsive, reckless
Interim (noun) – The time between one event, process, or period and another
Synonyms – Interlude, hiatus, interregnum, transient, lacuna
Antonyms – Everlasting, immortal, perpetual, enduring, antique
Buttressed (adjective) – Held up by braces
Synonyms – Backed, bolstered, propped, crutched, strutted
Antonyms – Enervated, enfeebled, fragile, sapped, rickety
Exclusionary (adjective) – Tending to exclude
Synonyms – Restrictive, swank, cliquish, preclusion, clannish
Antonyms – Deficient, endorse, pandemic, sanction, honour
Dubious (adjective) – Fraught with uncertainty or doubt
Synonyms – Suspicious, debatable, improbable, skeptical, ambiguous
Antonyms – Unambiguous, evident, indisputable, lucid, perspicuous
Constraints (noun) – A device that retards something’s motion
Synonyms – Impediments, compulsions, shackles, constrictions, strictures
Antonyms – Persuasions, incentives, liberties, scopes, latitudes
Insurmountable (adjective) – Incapable of being passed over, surmounted or overcome
Synonyms – Impassable, invincible, unconquerable, unattainable, indomitable
Antonyms – Acquiescent, amenable, biddable, climbable, passable
Flaws (noun) – An imperfection in an object or machine
Synonyms – Blemishes, blunders, deformities, blotches, distortions
Antonyms – Perfect, flawless, strengths, milestone, benefits
Attributes (noun) – A construct whereby objects or individuals can be distinguished
Synonyms – Ascribes, stuff, adnouns, peculiarities, adjuncts
Antonyms – Heft, recapitulation, slovenly, synopsis, tawdry
Recognized (adjective) – Provided with a secure reputation
Synonyms – Accredited, perceived, avowed, endorsed, canonical
Antonyms – Disreputable, abolished, annulled, beefed, brash
Nudging (verb) – Touch or push (something) gently or gradually
Synonyms – Prodding, prompt, bump, impelling, jostling
Antonyms – Allaying, appeasing, conciliating, daunting, deterring