In a landmark judgment in February, the Supreme Court ruled that women army officers be granted permanent commission' that allow them to serve beyond 20 years, subject to being cleared by a selection board.

Before this, except for three branches, women have been granted only short service commission that restrict their service tenure to 14 years.

The controversial issue that remains is the Indian Army's bar on allowing women in combat roles.

While the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy allow women to discharge combat roles, the army continues to keep them out of the four fighting arms -- the armoured corps, infantry, mechanised infantry and Special Forces -- and even the artillery, which is a combat support arm.

The Assam Rifles on August 5 said for the first time in Kashmir, 'Rifle Women' have been deployed on duty.

In a tweet, Assam Rifles said, 'Women soldiers of Assam Rifles deployed for the first time in Kashmir make a positive impact on the local populace in a matter of days. Smiling faces of locals is a testimony of professionalism of the Riflewomen of Assam Rifles.'

Dominic Xavier salutes the Assam Rifles's decision to deploy women soldiers in Kashmir.

• Dom's Take

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com