In a quiet yet powerful affirmation of merit and resolve, Major Navya Shekhawat of the Army Service Corps has become the first woman officer from the Indian Army to serve as Aide-de-Camp to the President of India. Appointed to Rashtrapati Bhavan, she now stands beside President Droupadi Murmu during state functions, investiture ceremonies and diplomatic engagements, upholding the exacting standards of presidential protocol.
Keywords: Major Navya Shekhawat, first woman Army ADC, President Droupadi Murmu ADC, Army Service Corps, women in Indian Army
Her journey began with the Combined Defence Services examination conducted by the UPSC. Securing a place on the merit list for the Short Service Commission (Women Non-Technical) course, she trained at the Officers Training Academy, Chennai. Commissioned into the Army Service Corps in 2021, she steadily rose through the ranks on pure merit to earn the rank of Major within a few years of service.
The role of ADC is one of the most prestigious staff appointments in the armed forces, traditionally held almost exclusively by male officers. Major Shekhawat’s selection, following the Navy’s Lt Commander Yashasvi Solanki in 2025, marks the second time a woman officer has entered this exclusive circle and the first from the Army. It reflects both institutional confidence in her professional competence and the expanding space for women in positions of national responsibility.
For young women preparing for defence examinations or contemplating a life in uniform, Major Shekhawat’s story carries a clear message. Discipline, consistent performance and quiet determination can open doors once considered closed. From the competitive CDS examination to the corridors of Rashtrapati Bhavan in just five years, she has shown that excellence, not gender, defines opportunity in today’s Indian Army.
Her presence beside the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces is more than a personal milestone. It is a living inspiration for every girl who dreams of serving the nation with pride and purpose.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.