From CDS to Rashtrapati Bhavan: Major Navya Shekhawat becomes first woman Army officer to serve as President’s ADC

A young Army officer standing beside the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan may look like a ceremonial image. But behind that photograph is a five-year military journey, a competitive UPSC examination, demanding training and a posting that places extraordinary demands on discipline, precision and presence of mind.Major Navya Shekhawat has become the first woman officer from the Indian Army to serve as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Droupadi Murmu. She is also the second woman overall to hold the President’s ADC post, after Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki of the Indian Navy was appointed in 2025.From a CDS merit list to Rashtrapati BhavanMajor Shekhawat's story began not at the gates of Rashtrapati Bhavan, but with one of India's most competitive defence examinations.She appeared for the UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination I, 2020 and was selected for the Short Service Commission Women Non-Technical Course at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai. Her name featured in the women's merit list for the course.OTA is where the transition from aspirant to military officer begins. Training combines physical conditioning, military skills, leadership development and the discipline required to function as part of the armed forces.After completing her training, Shekhawat was commissioned into the Army Service Corps (ASC) in 2021. The ASC performs crucial logistical functions, including supply, transport and other support systems that keep military formations operationally ready.Within about five years of commissioned service, she had risen to the rank of Major and taken up an assignment at the highest constitutional office in the country.What does a President's ADC actually do?The title Aide-de-Camp can sound ceremonial. The responsibility is considerably broader.The President's ADCs assist during official engagements and ceremonial functions and play a role in coordination, military protocol, and the smooth conduct of presidential programmes. They accompany the President at important events and remain closely involved in the formal military aspects of official engagements.The President is traditionally assisted by five military ADCs: three from the Army, one from the Navy and one from the Air Force.That makes the appointment a highly visible military assignment. The officer must carry out protocol-related responsibilities with precision while maintaining the bearing expected of an Army officer.Why Major Shekhawat's appointment mattersThe significance of Shekhawat's appointment lies not simply in the fact that she is a woman. It also marks the entry of a woman Army officer into a position that has historically been occupied overwhelmingly by men.Her appointment follows another recent milestone. In 2025, Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki became the first woman officer from the Indian Navy to serve as the President's ADC and the first woman overall in the position. Shekhawat now becomes the first woman from the Army to take up the role.The change is part of a longer evolution in the role of women in the Indian Army. Women began entering the Army through the Short Service Commission route in 1992. In 2020, the Supreme Court directed that eligible women Short Service Commission officers be considered for the Permanent Commission on the same terms as their male counterparts.Since then, women officers have increasingly occupied visible command, operational, and representational roles across the armed forces.How can you become an ADC to the President?There is no separate examination that candidates can take directly to become the President's ADC. The first step is to become a commissioned officer in the Indian Armed Forces.For aspirants following the Army route, one possible pathway is:Appear for an eligible officer-entry examination such as CDS conducted by UPSC.Clear the selection process and earn a place in the merit list.Complete officer training at the designated training academy, such as OTA for the relevant SSC entry.Receive a commission into the Indian Army.Build a strong professional record through military service.Be considered for suitable prestigious assignments based on service requirements and selection processes.Major Shekhawat's career shows that the journey is ultimately about sustained performance rather than merely clearing an examination. Her appointment has added another landmark to the growing visibility of women officers in India's armed forces.Get the latest Education News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.