CRPF Officer Simran Bala , to lead All-Male Contingent at Republic Day Parade

GG News Bureau
New Delhi 22nd January: In a moment that blends ceremony with quiet social change, Assistant Commandant Simran Bala of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is set to script history at the Republic Day parade on January 26. At just 26, Bala will lead an all-male marching contingent of the CRPF along Kartavya Path — a first for the country’s largest central armed police force.

The role is one of the most visible honours in India’s security establishment, traditionally entrusted to senior male officers. Bala’s selection, after weeks of intense rehearsals and evaluations, reflects not only personal merit but also a gradual shift in how leadership is being redefined within uniformed services.

Hailing from Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, Bala’s journey to the national spotlight has been shaped by discipline, resolve and lived experience. Raised in a border region frequently affected by cross-border firing, she says the presence of men and women in uniform during her childhood left a deep impression. “That environment always inspired me,” she recalls.

Bala cleared the UPSC Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) examination on her first attempt, securing a rank within the top 100. Following her training at the CRPF Academy in Gurugram, where she was rated among the strongest performers of her batch, she was posted to a Bastariya battalion in Chhattisgarh, operating in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas. Colleagues from her field posting describe her as calm under pressure and firm in decision-making — qualities that later stood out during ceremonial command assessments.

Speaking ahead of the parade, Bala described the opportunity as both an honour and a responsibility. Preparations, she said, began over a month ago with rigorous drills focusing on precision, coordination and command execution. “We worked on team cohesion and discipline so that everything reflects perfectly on the final day,” she said.

While women officers have earlier led women-only or mixed contingents, commanding a fully male formation remains rare across India’s uniformed forces. Bala believes her selection sends a simple message: competence matters more than gender. “CRPF has steadily moved towards assigning responsibilities purely on merit,” she noted, pointing to women battalions and growing operational roles for women.

For her family and her home district of Rajouri, Bala’s moment at the saluting base has become a source of pride. As India prepares for Republic Day celebrations, her presence at the head of the CRPF column stands as a powerful reminder that pathways from remote border regions to national prominence are opening wider — one steady march at a time.