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

Simran Bala, a 26-year-old Assistant Commandant from Nowshera, Jammu and Kashmir, will become the first woman officer to lead an all-male Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) contingent of over 140 personnel at India's 76th Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2026. She cleared the UPSC CAPF exam in 2023 with an All India Rank of 82, being the only woman from Jammu and Kashmir to qualify that year. Her leadership marks a significant milestone for gender representation in India's largest paramilitary force and reflects growing opportunities for women in uniform.