Major Navya Shekhawat has recently become a prominent name in India’s defence circles after being appointed as an Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Droupadi Murmu. Her appointment is historic because she is the first woman officer from the Indian Army to serve as the President’s ADC. However, she is not the first woman overall to hold the position.
That distinction belongs to Indian Navy Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki, who became the first woman President’s ADC in 2025. What makes Major Navya Shekhawat’s journey particularly interesting for defence aspirants is the path she followed to reach Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Her career began with the Union Public Service Commission’s Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination, followed by training at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai. She was commissioned into the Army Service Corps in 2021 and has now reached the rank of Major within about five years of service.
Major Navya Shekhawat
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Major Navya Shekhawat |
| Entry Route | UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) |
| CDS Examination | CDS (I) 2020 |
| Training Academy | Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai |
| Commissioned | 2021 |
| Army Branch | Army Service Corps (ASC) |
| Current Rank | Major |
| New Appointment | Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Droupadi Murmu |
| Historic Achievement | First Woman Army Officer to serve as President’s ADC |
| Overall Woman ADC Milestone | Second woman overall, after Indian Navy officer Yashasvi Solanki |
Who Is Major Navya Shekhawat?
Major Navya Shekhawat is an Indian Army officer who is currently serving as an Aide-de-Camp to President Droupadi Murmu. Reports identify her with Rajasthan’s Sikar district, and her military career has progressed from selection through the CDS route to one of the most visible appointments associated with the President’s official engagements. Her appearance alongside the President at official ceremonies has brought wider public attention to her career.
Her appointment represents a specific milestone for women in the Indian Army. The President’s ADC team traditionally includes officers from the three armed services, with the Army having three positions. Major Shekhawat’s appointment means that a woman Army officer has now entered this prestigious group for the first time. She is the second woman overall to serve as the President’s ADC after Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki of the Indian Navy.
Key highlights of Major Navya Shekhawat’s journey:
- She entered the Indian Army through the UPSC Combined Defence Services examination.
- Her name appeared in the CDS (I) 2020 OTA women’s merit list.
- She completed her officer training at OTA Chennai.
- She received her commission in the Army Service Corps in 2021.
- She became the first woman Army officer appointed as the President’s ADC.
Major Navya Shekhawat’s Education and CDS Journey
The publicly available information about Major Navya Shekhawat’s early educational background is limited, but her route into the Army is clearly linked to the UPSC Combined Defence Services examination. Her name appears at seventh position in the women’s merit list for the CDS (I) 2020 OTA entry, providing an official-record-based indication of her selection through the defence examination route.
After selection, she proceeded to the Officers Training Academy in Chennai for military training. Reports state that she was selected for the Short Service Commission Women Non-Technical Course and completed the demanding officer training at OTA. This stage is an important part of the journey from a successful CDS candidate to a commissioned Army officer, requiring candidates to develop leadership, discipline, physical fitness and military skills.
How Did Navya Shekhawat Join the Indian Army?
Clearing the CDS examination was just the first step in Major Shekhawat’s journey. The candidates selected in the OTA route have military training before getting the commission. Following this, Navya successfully completed the phase and was commissioned to the Indian Army via the SSC route in 2021. Her choice and preparation demonstrates how competitive defence exams can lead to a long-term military career.
She entered into the Army Service Corps (ASC), which provided crucial support and logistics services to the Army. An effective system for supplies, transportation and logistical support is essential to military formations and the work done by the ASC is necessary. From her initial commissioning in 2021, Navya progressed through the ranks and reached Major before taking up her new assignment at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Steps in Major Navya Shekhawat’s Journey to the Army
Major Navya Shekhawat’s journey to becoming the President’s first woman Army ADC involved several important stages. Her career shows how a candidate can move from a competitive defence examination to military training and eventually a prestigious assignment through consistent professional growth.
Step 1: She appeared for the UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination.
Step 2: She secured a place in the women’s OTA merit list for CDS (I) 2020.
Step 3: She joined the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai for military training.
Step 4: After completing her training, she received her commission in the Indian Army in 2021.
Step 5: She served in the Army Service Corps and progressed to the rank of Major.
Step 6: She was selected for the prestigious appointment of Aide-de-Camp to President Droupadi Murmu.
Step 7: With this appointment, she became the first woman officer from the Indian Army to serve as the President’s ADC.
What Does a President’s ADC Actually Do?
Major Shekhawat’s climb up the ranks in the Army has been pretty quick. It is reported that she was commissioned as a Major in about five years from 2021. Her experience further illustrates that the selection process via CDS is not the end of the challenge. After commissioning, officers must be consistent, accept duties and exhibit the attributes of a military leader.
Having served in the Army Service Corps also gives her an important perspective on her current position. The Army has a variety of roles that may not be readily apparent to the public, such as specialised officer assignments. It is important to mention that getting a job for the high-profile appointment as President’s ADC would not only indicate the success in the CDS examination, but also the professional path one took after commissioning.
What Does a President’s ADC Do?
Being an Aide-de-Camp is a lot more than sitting by the President’s side at public events. An ADC is a military officer who helps a senior dignitary with official engagements and the ceremonial and coordination matters. The job for the President of India is to keep an officer in the company of important national events, military functions, official meetings and such engagements.
President’s ADC staff are officers from various branches of the military. The group comprises of five officers, three of them from Indian army, one from Indian navy and one from Indian Air Force, according to reports. Major Shekhawat’s appointment is thus important not only because she is the first female President’s ADC overall, but also is the first woman officer from the Army to hold one of these offices.
Why Major Navya Shekhawat’s Appointment Is Important
Major Shekhawat’s appointment is a significant step in the ongoing march to greater diversity in India’s armed services, where women have already begun to play increasingly diverse roles. Her induction into the President’s ADC team is an indication of the increasing visibility of women officers in roles that require leadership, military protocol and high level official responsibilities. This is also a good example for all defence aspirants of what positions are available in the armed forces.
Her career path provides a lesson for students who are preparing for the CDS examination. The written examination is one of the eligibility criteria but candidates have to complete the selection and training process and become commissioned officers. The path of Major Shekhawat from the CDS route to the OTA training and later to the Army Service Corps and finally his appointment as the ADC to the President of India, demonstrates the possibilities of sustained effort and professional development in a defence career.
A New Inspiration for Women Defence Aspirants
Major Navya Shekhawat’s story is bound to make headlines for young girls wishing to join the armed forces. Her experience demonstrates that women officers can work through the Army’s recruitment and training system and gain access to high-profile and high-profile roles. The appointment also comes on the heels of many other achievements by women in the armed forces in India.
Then, her narrative should be chronicled in a realistic fashion. Having a successful CDS does not guarantee an appointment like President’s ADC. All candidates undergo mandatory selection requirements, military training and establish a solid career path once commissioned. Currently, Major Shekhawat is serving in this post after undergoing multiple selection, training and service processes and not a single examination.
The story of how Major Navya Shekhawat has reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan after defeating the UPSC CDS exam is an inspiration to those who are aspiring for a career in defence. Her inclusion in the CDS (I) 2020 OTA women’s merit list and her subsequent training at OTA, Chennai and induction into the Army Service Corps in 2021 is a good indication of the initial years of her military career.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information and available records regarding the military career of Major Navya Shekhawat. Her personal education and professional service information is subject to change as new information becomes available. Recruitment/ CDS/ Defence-service details should be checked from official sources from the government and UPSC before taking any career related decision.
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