Boots, bullets & breaking stereotypes: CISF's first all-women squad gear up for counter-terror ops

In a significant step towards enhancing gender representation in frontline security roles, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has launched training for its first all-women commando unit.

The team, comprising around 100 women personnel drawn from the Aviation Security Group (ASG) deployed at airports across the country, will be prepared for specialised counter-terrorist operations.

The CISF, a 1.70-lakh-strong central armed police force under the Union Home Ministry, is primarily tasked with securing 69 civil airports, the Delhi Metro, and several critical installations across both government and private sectors.


Officials said on Sunday that this all-women commando team is being envisioned as a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) and Special Task Force (STF) component for deployment at high-security establishments.

Training at Barwaha

The training of the first batch of 30 women began on August 11 at the Regional Training Centre in Barwaha, Madhya Pradesh, and will conclude on October 4.

A second batch will undergo the same programme from October 6 to November 29, with at least 100 women completing the course in its initial phase.

The eight-week intensive programme covers advanced commando skills including weapons handling, live-fire drills under pressure, survival techniques, obstacle courses, rappelling, and forest training. A 48-hour confidence-building module will further test decision-making and teamwork under simulated hostile conditions.

Expanding women’s role

Currently, women constitute about 8 per cent of the CISF’s strength, with 12,491 personnel in service. By 2026, the force is set to induct 2,400 more women, aiming to achieve the government-mandated target of at least 10 per cent female representation in its ranks.

A CISF spokesperson emphasised that the induction of an all-women commando team is more than symbolic.

“The inclusion of women in our core operational capabilities marks a decisive step towards gender parity. It also opens new ground in areas of operational security that were earlier considered male domains,” the spokesperson said.

Officials added that such all-women commando courses will now become a regular feature of the training calendar, ensuring a steady expansion of women’s presence in operational roles.

With the move, the CISF becomes the first central armed police force to create a dedicated all-women commando wing, signalling a shift in India’s security landscape where women are increasingly taking on specialised and high-risk assignments.

(With PTI inputs)