CRPF’s Male Contingent to be Led by a Woman: Meet Simran Bala, Daughter of Kashmir, Making History on Republic Day

India is all set to celebrate its 77th Republic Day, and 26-year-old Assistant Commandant Simran Bala is preparing for a historic moment at the Republic Day parade on Rajpath. On 26 January 2026, she will become the first female officer to lead an all-male contingent of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) during the parade in New Delhi.

Leading an All-Male Contingent
Hailing from Jammu & Kashmir, 26-year-old Simran Bala will command over 140 male personnel at India’s most prestigious national event. This unprecedented achievement marks the first time in the parade’s history that a woman officer will lead a male CRPF unit. Her leadership reflects not only her personal excellence but also the growing role of women in India’s security forces.

Breaking Traditions, Sending a Message
Traditionally, male officers have led formal CRPF parades. Simran Bala’s appointment as the Contingent Commander represents a symbolic shift, sending a powerful message of gender equality within the armed forces. Her participation highlights the evolving role of women in India’s defense and internal security services.

From Nowshera to the National Stage
Simran Bala hails from Nowshera in Rajouri district, Jammu & Kashmir. Her journey to this historic moment was shaped by her childhood experiences in the border region, where she witnessed cross-border firing. These early experiences inspired her to serve the nation through India’s central armed police forces.

Selected through UPSC in June 2023
In June 2023, Simran Bala cleared the UPSC CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) examination, becoming the only woman from Jammu & Kashmir to do so that year. She secured an All India Rank of 82 out of 151 successful candidates.

Education and Training
She completed her schooling in Nowshera and pursued higher education in Jammu, graduating with a degree in Political Science from Government Women’s College, Gandhinagar. Simran began preparing for the CAPF exam during her final semester and cleared it on her first attempt.

After selection, she underwent training at the CRPF Academy in Gurugram, where she was recognized as the Best Officer in training and received an award for public speaking. Simran Bala joined the CRPF in April 2025 and was first posted in Chhattisgarh with the Bastariya Battalion, taking charge of counter-Naxal operations.

Role of CRPF
The CRPF, India’s largest internal security force with over 3.25 lakh personnel, plays a key role in counter-insurgency and anti-terror operations across the country, including Naxal-affected areas, Jammu & Kashmir, and the northeastern states. Every year on 26 January, the Republic Day parade showcases India’s military strength and cultural diversity as it progresses along Rajpath from Raisina Hill to India Gate and Red Fort.

Simran Bala’s leadership of the male CRPF contingent at this year’s parade marks a historic milestone, inspiring a new generation of women in India’s security services.