The Manohar Parrikar-headed defence ministry on Saturday approved the induction of women into the fighter combat stream of the Indian Air Force. The decision came a fortnight after Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha had first revealed that the IAF was planning to induct women as fighter pilots to "meet the aspirations of young women in the country".

The first women fighter pilots would be selected from the batch that is currently undergoing training at the Air Force Academy, the Defence Ministry said in a statement. "This progressive step is in keeping with the aspirations of Indian women and is in line with contemporary trends in armed forces of developed nations," the Ministry said. It added that the performance of women inducted into transport and helicopter streams of the IAF has been "praiseworthy" and at par with their male colleagues.

Until now, women officers in the defence services were limited to non-combat roles. The IAF had in the past conveyed its reservations against inducting women into combat roles.