India, March 4 -- The Indian Army, which is already a gender-agnostic force, is marching ahead to induct more women into its ranks.

The induction of women into the service in more numbers is not a mere case of gender equality and fairness. It is also the Army's recognition of the role that women play and the diversity that the strengths that they bring to the table. Women also possess strong communication and interpersonal skills, which can be crucial for building rapport with local populations, especially in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations.

These skills are also valuable in team building and conflict resolution within the military. With the same training as their male counterparts, women have proved that they can conduct opera...