Simran Bala to Lead All-Male CRPF Contingent at 2026 Republic Day Parade

Simran Bala, a 26-year-old Assistant Commandant from Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, will become the first woman officer to lead an all-male Central Reserve Police Force contingent of over 140 personnel at the 2026 Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Commissioned in April 2025 after clearing the UPSC CAPF exam on her first attempt, she was recognized as the best officer in training. Her leadership marks a significant milestone for gender inclusion in India's largest paramilitary force, which plays a key role in internal security operations across the country.