Indian armed forces to recruit women for all combat roles - president

NEW DELHI: India will allow women to take up combat roles in all sections of its army, navy and air force, President Pranab Mukherjee said, signalling a radical move towards gender parity in one of the world's most male-dominated professions.

Most countries employ women in various roles in their armed forces but only a handful, including Australia, Germany, Israel and the United States, have allowed them to take on fighting, or combat, roles.