During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of India launched the Atma-Nirbhar Bharat (ANB) initiative to strengthen national capabilities across sectors, including defense. Given that women constitute nearly half of India’s population, this article examines how government policies under ANB seek to integrate women into the various subfields of the male-dominated defense ecosystem. The research draws on selected case studies, policy documents, press releases, and parliamentary debates, alongside discourse analysis of public and institutional narratives on women’s inclusion in defense. The analysis identifies persistent structural barriers, despite incremental gains from recent reforms. While discussing about the policies to make the defense sector more inclusive for women, the article also underscores that women’s integration is not only a matter of equity but also a strategic necessity. This article evaluates current measures, offers a policy-oriented critique, and outlines recommendations for expanding women’s roles in making the defense sector self-reliant.
Sharma et al. (Sun,) studied this question.