The apex court further denied the request put in by the Centre, where it was stated that women candidates should be allowed to take the NDA exam from the next year. The Defence Ministry has said earlier that a notification allowing women candidates to appear for the entrance exam to the National Defence Academy (NDA) will be out by May 2022.

The Supreme Court said that it cannot vacate its interim order which allowed women to appear for the NDA examination this year, in November 2021. The court also said that they don’t want women to be denied their right to appear for the exam.

The court said, “We don’t want women to be denied their right; needful be done by the Defence department in collaboration with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).” It also added that the Defence Ministry is best equipped to deal with emergencies.

In an affidavit presented to the court yesterday, the Ministry of Defence had said that the notification regarding the NDA exam where women would be allowed to appear will be issued next year in May. The ministry had also said that they required time to make the necessary arrangements for this change.

The affidavit stated, “The Government, in line with its commitment, hereby place on record its clear and categorical stand that the women candidates shall be considered for entry in the three defence services, in the existing streams, through NDA.”

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Defence had announced, after consulting the armed forces, that women should be allowed to appear for the NDA examination, a decision that was applauded by many across the country.