Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 30: Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi B Solanki made history in May 2025 by becoming the first woman officer from the Indian Army, Navy or Air Force to serve as an Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President of India Droupadi Murmu.

The President is generally assisted by five ADCs — three from the Army and one each from the Navy and Air Force — making Solanki’s appointment a notable milestone for women in the armed forces. She was formally presented with the ceremonial aiguillette on May 9, 2025, marking the start of her tenure, which is expected to last around two and a half to three years.

In interviews, Solanki has said becoming the President’s ADC was never a specific ambition, as she had not imagined that such an opportunity would be within her reach. Her selection followed a demanding process involving an interaction with President Droupadi Murmu, security clearances and an orientation period before she formally took charge.

Solanki hails from Maharashtra and had established herself as a sportsperson before joining the defence services, competing at district level in badminton and volleyball. The sporting disciplines, she has said, helped develop the focus and discipline that later became integral to her military career.

She joined the service in 2019 as a specialised officer in the Naval Armament Inspection Cadre under the Executive Cadre of the Indian Navy. She then underwent three years of extensive training in naval weapons before being posted to Hyderabad, where she handled defence projects for the Navy.

Officers chosen for the President’s ADC role typically have at least five to seven years of strong and consistent service behind them. Solanki’s experience across logistics and technical postings provided her with hands-on exposure within the Navy before she took on the historic assignment.

As ADC, Solanki is responsible for closely coordinating the President’s official engagements, keeping abreast of visiting dignitaries and forthcoming events, and accompanying the President at state functions, investiture ceremonies and diplomatic meetings.

She has spoken about the preparation the role requires, noting that she and her colleagues must remain updated about who is meeting the President before every engagement, as the President may ask about any of the details at short notice.

Her appointment comes amid a gradual shift within the Indian Armed Forces, including the Navy’s evolving policies on women commanding warships and taking on wider cross-service responsibilities.

Solanki’s milestone was followed by another historic appointment. In July 2026, Major Navya Shekhawat of the Army Service Corps became the second woman officer overall and the first woman from the Indian Army to be appointed ADC to the President, building on the path Solanki had opened just over a year earlier.

Solanki’s journey from a district-level sportsperson in Maharashtra to standing alongside the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan marks a significant chapter in her career. It also reflects the gradual opening of some of the armed forces’ most prestigious ceremonial and protocol roles to women.