Assistant Commandant Simran Bala, who hails from the Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir, will become the first female to command an all-male contingent of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at the Republic Day Parade 2026. A 26-year-old woman officer will lead an all-male army this Republic Day. Who is Simran Bala? Her outstanding competence leads her as a fitting leader of the all-male contingent at the Republic Day parade and underscores the CRPF's forward looking approach on raising women officers on higher pedestals. No female officer has commanded an all-male contingent as Bala in the past, as they have either led mixed or all-female contingents in previous Republic Day parades.

Source: dna January 21, 2026 13:26 UTC