New Delhi, June 30 -- In a significant stride toward gender parity and women empowerment, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has reached a historic milestone with 50 per cent of its Inspector General (IG)-rank cadre officers now being women.

The four senior women officers currently holding IG-level posts are Shanti Jaidev (IG, Eastern Sector), Jyoti Sinha (IG, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space), Pratibha Aggarwal [IG, Tech and Provisioning (Headquarters)], and Neelima Rani (IG, Central Sector).

Out of the 16 total Inspector General (IG) posts in the force--half of which are reserved for Indian Police Service (IPS) officers--eight are held by CISF cadre officers, including four women.

According to the CISF, o...