Meet CRPF commander Simran Bala, the first women to lead an all-men marching contingent on Republic Day 2026

A 26-year-old Central Reserve Police Force officer, Assistant Commandant Simran Bala, will lead an all-male marching contingent at the Republic Day parade on January 26, marking a first for the country’s largest central armed police force. Officials said the appointment reflects a milestone in the gradual reshaping of leadership norms within uniformed services, as per a report by HT.

Bala, who hails from Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, was selected after a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation that included weeks of rehearsals, full-dress drills and command assessments along Kartavya Path. She will command a contingent of more than 140 male personnel drawn from operational units of the force. The role is among the most prominent ceremonial responsibilities in India’s security establishment and has traditionally been assigned to senior male officers. While women have earlier led women-only or mixed contingents, commanding a fully male formation remains rare across uniformed forces.

She joined the force after clearing the Union Public Service Commission’s Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) examination on her first attempt, securing a rank within the top 100. Bala completed her training at the CRPF Academy in Gurugram, where instructors rated her among the strongest performers of her batch, citing discipline, leadership qualities and communication skills.


Her first operational posting was with a Bastariya battalion in Chhattisgarh in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism. Officers who worked with her during field tenure described her as composed and decisive, qualities that later translated into her performance during ceremonial training.

On the evolving role of women within the force, Bala told HT that her experience showed opportunities were increasingly being determined by merit rather than gender. She said the force had consistently promoted gender equality and moved towards a more inclusive system, citing the raising of women battalions and the induction of women into operational roles.

She also addressed young women from Jammu and Kashmir, saying her journey underscored the importance of perseverance and faith in hard work. She said opportunities today were based on merit and emphasised the need for capable and committed women across all fields.

Bala said her family had reacted with pride and excitement, adding that they were eagerly awaiting January 26. Officials said her appointment reflected a broader institutional shift within the central armed police forces, where women officers are increasingly being entrusted with frontline and leadership responsibilities rather than confined to support roles.

Preparations for the 77th Republic Day parade are underway, with contingents from the armed forces and central armed police forces undergoing strict evaluation protocols. Bala’s march past the saluting base is expected to draw attention not only for ceremonial precision, but also for what it signals about changing command structures within India’s security forces.