Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 22: In a historic first, Simran Bala, a young CRPF Assistant Commandant from the border district of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, is set to become the first woman paramilitary officer to command an all-male CRPF contingent at the Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path, New Delhi, on January 26.

For the first time in the history of the Central Reserve Police Force, a woman officer will lead a contingent comprising over 140 male personnel during the annual Republic Day celebrations.

Simran, aged 26, hails from Nowshera, a border area in Rajouri district known for its resilience amid frequent cross-border tensions. The region, along with other forward areas, has borne the brunt of Pakistani shelling, including during the three-day skirmishes following Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian military on May 7, 2025, targeting militant infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

She joined the CRPF after successfully clearing the UPSC Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) examination in 2023, securing an impressive 82nd All India Rank in her first attempt. Notably, she was the only woman candidate from the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory to qualify that year and is also the first woman from Rajouri district to join the CRPF as an officer.

Commissioned into the force in April 2025, Simran’s first posting was with the ‘Bastariya’ battalion in Chhattisgarh, where she actively participated in anti-Naxal operations, gaining valuable field experience early in her career.

Simran said her aspiration to don the uniform began in childhood, shaped by growing up close to the Line of Control (LoC) and witnessing the dedication of armed forces personnel deployed in the region. “There was constant interaction with army personnel in our area. Seeing their service and sacrifice inspired me from a very young age,” she said.

With several close relatives serving in the armed forces, Simran remained determined to follow the same path — a dream she has now turned into reality.

Her leadership at the Republic Day parade is being hailed as a symbol of empowerment and progress, and is expected to inspire young women across the country, especially from conflict-affected and border areas, to dream big and pursue careers in the armed forces.

Key highlights:

• First woman officer to command an all-male CRPF contingent

• Will lead over 140 male personnel at Republic Day parade

• Cleared UPSC CAPF exam 2023 with 82nd AIR

• First woman from Rajouri district to become a CRPF officer