Major Navya Shekhawat: First Army Woman Aide to President

When Major Navya Shekhawat stands beside President Droupadi Murmu at state functions, she's not just performing protocol duties. She's making history as the first woman from the Indian Army to serve as presidential Aide-de-Camp.

The role of ADC is one of the military's most prestigious appointments. Only five officers serve the President at any time: three from the Army, one from the Navy, and one from the Air Force.

For decades, these coveted positions went exclusively to men. That changed in May 2025 when Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki of the Navy became the first woman ADC to the President.

Now Major Shekhawat has opened that door even wider. As an officer in the Army Service Corps, she assists during investiture ceremonies, diplomatic engagements, and official state events that demand exceptional discipline and bearing.

Her journey started the same way it does for thousands of military aspirants each year. She cleared the Combined Defence Services examination and earned a spot at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai, where civilians transform into commissioned officers through rigorous physical and mental training.

After commissioning into the Army Service Corps, the branch responsible for logistics and supply chains, Major Shekhawat rose quickly through the ranks. Within just a few years of service, she earned one of the most visible appointments in the country.

Why This Inspires

Major Shekhawat's achievement sits on the shoulders of trailblazers who came before her. The first batch of women officers joined the Indian Army in 1992 through the Short Service Commission route.

The path widened significantly in 2020 when the Supreme Court ruled that women officers must be considered for permanent commission on equal terms with men. Since then, women have commanded units, led international military exercises, and briefed the nation on major operations.

Her story proves that support branches like the Army Service Corps can lead to the most prestigious appointments the military offers. Combat roles aren't the only path to recognition and leadership.

For young women studying for defence exams or preparing for Officers Training Academy, Major Shekhawat's presence at Rashtrapati Bhavan offers something powerful: proof that merit and persistence can open doors that once seemed permanently closed.

Her appointment signals that India's armed forces continue evolving, defining leadership not by tradition but by performance and capability. Major Navya Shekhawat now stands where she belongs, at the heart of the nation's most important ceremonies.