IAF's First Women Fighter Pilots awarded 'Nari Shakti Puraskar'

IAF's First Women Fighter Pilots awarded 'Nari Shakti Puraskar'
16-March 2020 2.00

IAF's First Women Fighter Pilot trio awarded 'Nari Shakti Puraskar' on International Women’s Day

 

Power to Women, Power to Nation & Worldwide stamped on International Women’s Day

 

Key Features:

  • - First Fighter Pilot trio awarded 'Nari Shakti Puraskar' on International Women’s Day.
  • - First Indian women fighter pilots took solo flight in MIG-21 in 2018.

 

The first three women fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force Mohana Jitarwal, Avani Chaturvedi and Bhawana Kanth were presented the 'Nari Shakti Puraskar' by President Ram Nath Kovind on 8th March at Rashtrapati Bhawan.


The three women were first to be inducted into the IAF's fighter squadron after the Government of India decided to open fighter stream in the force for women on an experimental basis. The trio had successfully conducted a solo flight in MIG-21 in 2018.

 

Flight Lieutenant Avani Chaturvedi has been posted to No. 23 Squadron (Panthers) Suratgarh in Rajasthan.

Bhawana Kanth has been posted to No 3 Squadron (Cobras), Ambala in Haryana.
Mohana Jitarwal did her schooling from Air Force School in New Delhi, her Father, Pratap Singh is a Warrant Officer in Indian Air Force. Her grandfather Ladu Ram Jat died fighting during the 1948 Indo-Pak war and was awarded Vir Chakra Award posthumously.

 

On International Women’s Day the trio with 15 eminent women in the diverse fields including sports, education, agriculture, handicrafts, armed forces, wildlife conservation and afforestation has been recognized with India’s highest civilian award for recognizing the achievements and contributions of women.

 

The team of Centurion Defence Academy driving as an India’s primer defence coaching takes this privilege to congratulate our trio Women Fighter Pilot of IAF on receiving Woman Power Award on International Women’s Day 2020.