CRPF assistant commandant Simran Bala (Photo: X)
New Delhi: As the nation prepares to celebrate its 77th Republic Day, 26-year-old Simran Bala from Jammu and Kashmir is set to create history by leading an all-male marching contingent of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at the Republic Day parade along Kartavya Path in the national capital.
Serving as an Assistant Commandant in the CRPF, Simran Bala will become the first woman officer to command a marching contingent of the force at the prestigious parade.
The first woman from Rajouri district to join the CRPF as an officer, Simran’s march down Kartavya Path will be more than a ceremonial honour. It symbolises a significant shift -- one marked by broken barriers, new beginnings, and expanded opportunities for future generations of women in uniform.
A native of Nowshera in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, Simran completed her graduation in political science from the Government College for Women. In 2023, she cleared the UPSC Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) examination.
During her training at the CRPF Academy in Gurugram, she was adjudged the best officer in training and also excelled in public speaking.
She was commissioned into the CRPF as an Assistant Commandant in April 2025 and posted to the ‘Bastariya’ battalion in Chhattisgarh, where she participated in anti-Naxal operations in Maoist-affected regions.
About CRPF
With a strength of over 3.25 lakh personnel, the CRPF is India’s largest paramilitary force. It plays a vital role in maintaining internal security and is at the forefront of counter-terrorism, anti-insurgency, and anti-Naxal operations across the country.
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