At official ceremonies at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President is usually surrounded by senior officers, dignitaries and army personnel. Amongst them is a younger Military officer who has not too long ago drawn attention- Main Navya Shekhawat.Main Shekhawat is serving as an Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Droupadi Murmu, changing into the primary lady officer from the Indian Army to carry the place. Her appointment comes after Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki of the Indian Navy turned the primary lady general to function a President’s ADC in 2025.
What does a President’s ADC do?
Main Navya Shekhawat underwent coaching on the Officers Coaching Academy (OTA) in Chennai earlier than being commissioned into the Indian Military.
The title might sound ceremonial, however the ADC’s position entails far more than merely accompanying the President at public occasions. The President historically has 5 ADCs- three from the Military, one from the Navy and one from the Air Pressure. These officers help the President throughout official engagements and ceremonies and play an necessary position in sustaining army and ceremonial protocol.
Main Navya Shekhawat ‘s journey started with the CDS examination
Main Navya Shekhawat is the second lady to function the President’s ADC and the primary from the Indian Military.
Like many younger Indians aspiring to affix the armed forces, Shekhawat’s route into the Military started with the Mixed Defence Providers (CDS) examination, performed by the Union Public Service Fee.In line with Moneycontrol and The Higher India, she secured a spot within the benefit listing for the Brief Service Fee Girls Non-Technical Course and subsequently underwent coaching on the Officers Coaching Academy (OTA), Chennai.After finishing her coaching, Shekhawat was commissioned into the Military Service Corps (ASC). The corps is chargeable for necessary logistical capabilities, together with provides, transportation and different methods required to maintain army formations operational.Shekhawat was commissioned across the center of 2021 and rose to the rank of Main inside a couple of years. Her appointment because the President’s ADC in 2026 due to this fact got here roughly 5 years after she started her commissioned service.
She is the second lady to function President’s ADC
Whereas Main Shekhawat is the primary lady from the Indian Military to carry the President’s ADC place, she is just not the primary lady officer general to enter the President’s ADC staff. That distinction belongs to Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki of the Indian Navy, who turned the primary lady ADC to the President in 2025.Main Shekhawat’s achievement comes towards the backdrop of a number of a long time of change within the position of ladies in India’s army. Girls started getting into the Indian Military by the Brief Service Fee route in 1992. Their alternatives subsequently expanded by coverage adjustments and landmark judicial interventions.In 2020, the Supreme Courtroom dominated that eligible ladies officers serving underneath the Brief Service Fee must be thought-about for Everlasting Fee on the identical phrases as their male counterparts, considerably widening their profession alternatives inside the Military.