New Delhi, April 20: The Indian Navy today announced that its women officers would be eligible for permanent commission and service on warships, following in the footsteps of the army and the air force that opened select branches to women earlier this year.

This means that women can go on to command ships if found suitable.

Women in the Indian armed forces serve only as officers. Till now, barring the doctors and nursing staff, they were eligible only for short service commission for a maximum of 14 years.

The navy has about 500 lady officers, about half of whom are medical staff. The IAF announced in October last year that it was opening its fighter stream to select women officers. The first three may qualify in the middle of this year. The army has permitted permanent commission to women in non-combat branches.

The grant of permanent commission to an officer makes him/her eligible for a minimum of 20 years of service. The service may be longer if the officer is selected for higher ranks. Permanent commission also entitles the officer to pension.

The decision to grant permanent commission is still "experimental" and will be tried out for five years, said a navy source.

The government decision to widen the scope for women in the armed forces comes after protracted legal battles.

In September 2008, the Supreme Court slammed the navy for "gender discrimination". Since then, the navy has been working to progressively open service opportunities for women recruited after 2008.

Currently, three women officers - Commander Suman Kumari, Commander Supriya Sethu and Commander Pawan Preet Mann - have moved the Supreme Court seeking reinstatement as permanent commission officers. They have now been called for medical tests.

For now, women in the navy will be eligible for permanent commission (minimum 20 years of service that may be longer, depending on selection to higher ranks) in the naval constructors and education branches.

Next year, the navy will consider women as pilots for maritime surveillance aircraft.

The navy's more modern warships beginning with the Kolkata-class are being built with separate billeting facilities for women officers. These are the ships on which the lady officers may be chosen to serve.

The grant of permanent commission and service on platforms will be determined by four factors: the women have to opt, they have to be medically fit, their annual confidential reports have to reflect meritorious service and there must be vacancies available in the branches the women serve in.

"Recognising the importance of providing equal opportunities to women officers, seven women officers from the batch of short service commission officers of the education branch and naval constructor cadre, who joined in 2008-09, have been granted permanent commission," the navy said in an official statement today.

An annual naval senior commanders' conference scheduled for three days from tomorrow is likely to formalise the procedures to grant permanent commission to select women.

The navy statement said that beginning next year, women officers can choose to join as pilots of maritime reconnaissance planes such as the Boeing P8I and the Dornier and also opt to serve in the naval armament inspectorate cadre.

To mark the induction of women as permanent commission officers, the navy is preparing for a circumnavigation of the earth by an six-member all-women crew on a sailing vessel, the Mhadei II.

The navy, with a total strength of about 55,000 personnel, is the smallest of the three armed forces.