UPSC NDA 2021 Nov 14 Exam for Female Candidates: SC Rejects Centre's Plea to Begin Womens' Participation from May 2022 (Next Year)

UPSC NDA 2021 Nov 14 Exam for Female Candidates (Women are eligible this year): On 22nd September 2021, Supreme Court rejected the Centre's plea to defer the women participation in NDA Exam next year to May 2022. Ministry of Defence earlier requested the court to exempt the NDA from the induction of women from the present defence exam held by UPSC. The Ministry also stated that certain infrastructural and curriculum changes are required to allow the induction of women, and hence it sought time till May 2022 to allow the women to participate in NDA Exam. However, a bench led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul observed that the admission of women cannot be postponed. The bench took note of the submissions made by Senior Advocate Chinmoy Pradip Sharma on behalf of the petitioner Kush Kalra that two exams are held by the NDA during a year for the admissions to the next year. So, allowing women to take only the 2022 exams will mean that their admissions to the NDA will take place only in 2023.

SC no to accept Centre's request to allow women to take NDA exam from next year, says armed forces best suited to deal with 'emergencies'

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 22, 2021

Supreme Court Ordered "It would be difficult for us to accept the submissions of the Centre in view of the aspirations of the candidates willing to take the exam. Armed Forces has seen far emergent situations both at the border and in the country. We are sure such training will come handy here. We will thus not vacate the order passed by us. We will keep the plea pending here so that directions can be sought as situations arise," ordered the top court."

Earlier, Central government has informed the Supreme Court that a decision has been taken to allow the induction of women into the armed forces through the National Defence Academy (NDA). The Armed Forces have themselves took this decision after consultation with three Service Chief told by the Bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul.  

Central government informs Supreme Court that it has taken decision to allow induction of women into National Defence Academy, #NDA.

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 8, 2021

Centre Informed Supreme Court that Women would be inducted in National Defence Academy (NDA)

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati appearing for Centre told the Bench that “There is a piece of good news. A decision has been taken at the highest level of forces and government that women will be inducted for Permanent Commission through the National Defence Academy. The decision was taken late evening yesterday,”

Women to be inducted into armed forces through NDA: Centre tells SC

Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/8szixEs8cr#NDA pic.twitter.com/Uc7Ah288CF

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) September 8, 2021

Hearing the plea seeking to allow women to take part in the NDA exams, the Supreme Court asked ASG Bhati to put the statement on record through an affidavit and adjourned the matter for two weeks and posted the matter for hearing on September 22. “We are extremely glad to know as ASG submits that armed forces have taken a decision to induct females in NDA and other issues are being examined. They would like to place developments and future plans before us for which time is sought,” it said.

Today, on 8^th September, ASG said that the women will be admitted to the NDA and apprised the Bench that the exam was postponed to November 14, 2021. ASG has urged before the apex court that the status quo be maintained with respect to the NDA admissions for the current academic year.

Earlier Supreme Court Passed Interim Order Allowing Women to Appear for UPSC NDA Exams

On 18^th August 2021 SC passed an interim order allowing women to appear in the National Defence Academy (NDA) Competitive Exam. The court slammed the policy decision of the Army for not permitting women to appear in the NDA exam and said that it is based on ‘Gender Discrimination. The court said that the present public interest petition raises the issue of violation of Articles 14, 15, 16 and 19 of the Indian Constitution by denying the opportunity to eligible and willing female candidates to join the National Defence Academy. Women candidates should be given a chance to enrol, train and develop themselves in the National Defence Academy into future leaders of the Indian Armed Forces.

Click here to get UPSC 2022 Exam Calendar

The interim order was passed by a division bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy in a writ petition filed by Kush Kalra seeking permission for women candidates to appear for the NDA exam. The plea stated that “the act of the respondents to categorically exclude eligible and willing female candidates from appearing for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination over the years, solely on the ground of sex, is a violation of the Fundamental Right of Equality before the Law and Equal Protection of the law.”

UPSC NDA 2021 Exam Details

UPSC conducts NDA Exam twice every year for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA) for male eligible candidates till now. Below are some important dates for NDA 2021 Exam:

UPSC NDA & NA exam consists of two stages, i.e., written exam and SSB Interview.