Major Navya Shekhawat Becomes First Indian Army Woman Officer Appointed as President’s Aide-de-Camp
“Major Navya Shekhawat’s appointment as President’s Aide-de-Camp marks a historic first for the Indian Army and reflects the expanding leadership opportunities available to women officers.”
Major Navya Shekhawat has become the first woman officer from the Indian Army to be appointed as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President of India, marking a significant milestone in the Armed Forces’ ongoing expansion of leadership opportunities for women.
She is serving as Aide-de-Camp to President Droupadi Murmu, becoming the first woman Army officer to hold the position. She is also the second woman officer overall to serve as a Presidential ADC after Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki of the Indian Navy, who achieved the distinction in 2025.
The appointment places Major Shekhawat among a select group of military officers entrusted with assisting the President during official engagements and ceremonial functions at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The role requires officers to coordinate with senior military and civilian officials, oversee protocol during state events and represent the Armed Forces at national ceremonies.
Major Shekhawat serves in the Army Service Corps, one of the Indian Army’s key logistics branches responsible for transportation, supply chains and operational support. The corps plays a critical role in ensuring military readiness by managing the movement of personnel, equipment and essential supplies across operational areas.
Her journey into the Army began through the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). After qualifying for the Short Service Commission, she secured a place on the merit list of the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, where she completed officer training before being commissioned into the Army Service Corps.
According to available information, Major Shekhawat was commissioned in 2021 and rose to the rank of Major within five years. Her appointment as Presidential ADC follows her service record and selection for one of the Army’s most prestigious staff assignments.
The position of Aide-de-Camp carries both administrative and ceremonial responsibilities. Officers serving in the role accompany the President during official visits, state functions, investiture ceremonies, Guard of Honour events and meetings with military and civilian dignitaries. They also help coordinate official communication while ensuring established protocol is followed during high-level engagements.
Major Shekhawat’s appointment comes against the backdrop of expanding career opportunities for women in the Indian Army. Women were first inducted into the Army through the Short Service Commission in 1992, and their roles have widened steadily through policy changes and judicial interventions.
A significant development came in 2020 when the Supreme Court upheld the grant of permanent commission to women officers in the Army, observing that career progression should be based on merit rather than gender. The judgment paved the way for wider command and staff appointments across several branches of the service.
The appointment of Major Shekhawat reflects this broader institutional evolution, with women officers increasingly being entrusted with high-profile operational, administrative and ceremonial responsibilities.
Her career progression, from clearing the CDS examination and completing training at OTA Chennai to serving at Rashtrapati Bhavan as President’s Aide-de-Camp, has drawn attention among defence aspirants and military observers as an example of professional advancement through merit and service.
