In a significant stride toward gender equality in the armed forces, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has announced that four of its eight Inspector General (IG) rank posts are now held by women officers from within the CISF cadre. This marks the highest proportion of women in top leadership roles among all Central Armed Police Forces in India.
“This is the highest proportion among all armed forces of the union… With women rising to leadership positions, CISF is not just marking a milestone—it is leading a movement towards true representation and meaningful participation in uniformed services,” CISF said in a statement on Monday.
Who Are These Trailblazers?
The four women IGs currently leading critical CISF formations and departments are:
- Shanti Jaidev – IG of the Eastern Sector
- Neelima Rani – IG of the Central Sector
- Jyoti Sinha – IG in charge of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Department of Space (DOS)
- Pratibha Aggarwal – IG (Technical & Provisioning) at CISF headquarters
These women are handling sensitive national security portfolios—a feat previously rare at such senior levels for non-IPS cadre women in paramilitary forces.
Structural Background
The eight IG-level posts in the CISF are equally divided between IPS officers and CISF cadre officers. Notably, all four of the non-IPS positions are now occupied by women—a first-of-its-kind development in India’s paramilitary landscape.
CISF’s Role
With over 2 lakh personnel, CISF provides security to 359 vital installations across India, including airports, nuclear plants, Parliament, and critical infrastructure in areas affected by insurgency or terrorism.
Reactions & Impact
A mid-level CISF officer described the move as a “great achievement,” especially because IGs are responsible for key decisions in sectors and frontiers and are supported by DIGs in operational matters.
Former IPS officer Meeran Chadha Borwankar, who once headed Mumbai’s Crime Branch, lauded the development:
“Having four women in top leadership positions of CISF is a very positive signal of change in our society. We need high visibility of women leaders in all the fields. It encourages girls to be ambitious and also encourages their families to invest in girl education.”
This milestone comes after Nina Singh, a former CISF chief, became only the second woman to lead a central paramilitary force in India.
The advancement aligns with the Indian government’s larger push for ‘Nari Shakti’ (women power) across sectors—especially in traditionally male-dominated fields like defense and policing.