Vice Admiral Arti Sarin: First Woman to Lead DGAFMS

Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin has become the first woman to head the Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) in India. Sarin, the 46th DGAFMS, is responsible for overseeing medical policy matters for the Indian Armed Forces.

Historic Appointment and Role

Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin became the first woman to head the Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) on October 1, 2024.
She is the 46th DGAFMS and the highest-ranking woman officer in the Indian Armed Forces.
DGAFMS is directly responsible to the Ministry of Defence for overall medical policy matters related to the Armed Forces.
Sarin will lead AFMS for two years, succeeding Lt Gen Daljit Singh.
Her appointment is seen as a significant milestone for women in the Indian military and a boost to women's empowerment in the Armed Forces.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Commissioned in December 1985 after graduating from Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune.
Has served in all three branches of the Armed Forces - Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Holds two postgraduate degrees: MD in Radiodiagnosis and Diplomate National Board in Radiation Oncology.
Trained in Gamma Knife surgery from the University of Pittsburgh, USA.

Previously held positions include:

- Director General of Medical Services for both Navy and Air Force
- Director and Commandant of AFMC, Pune
- Commanding Officer of INHS Asvini
- Command Medical Officer in Southern and Western Naval Commands
Awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) by President Droupadi Murmu in July 2024 for exceptional service.

Contributions and Initiatives

At the forefront of motivating young women to join the armed forces.
Considered a "shining icon" for the government's Nari Shakti initiative.
Recently appointed as a member of the National Task Force by the Supreme Court to formulate safe working conditions and protocols for medical professionals.
The task force aims to prevent violence against medical professionals and provide enforceable national protocols for dignified and safe working conditions.

Context and Significance

Sarin's appointment comes two months after Lt Gen Sadhna Saxena Nair became the first woman Director General of Medical Services (Army).
She is the first woman among 46 DGAFMS appointees, breaking a long-standing gender barrier in the position.
Her role as DGAFMS involves overseeing medical policy matters for all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces.
This appointment reflects the growing representation of women in senior positions within the Indian military.
It aligns with broader efforts to increase gender diversity and inclusion in the Armed Forces.

RBI 2016 Circular Withdrawal

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently announced the RBI 2016 Circular Withdrawal, a move that marks a major shift in corporate lending norms. This decision has attracted attention among bankers

India Spain Defence Cooperation

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has made history by becoming the first non-NATO nation to participate in Exercise Ocean Sky 2025, a high-intensity multinational air combat drill hosted by the Spanish A

India-Germany Green Energy Cooperation

India and Germany recently celebrated 25 years of their strategic partnership, with a strong focus on green energy cooperation. This milestone highlights the depth and resilience of bila

NPCI’s UPI Help Assistant

In a significant move to enhance digital payment experiences and boost user trust, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched the UPI Help assistant, an AI-powered digital assi

NavIC Receiver Standards India

The Indian government has recently introduced NavIC receiver standards in India to strengthen the country's satellite navigation ecosystem. Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation

CDSCO Digital Drug Licensing System

India has recently taken a significant step in pharmaceutical safety by rolling out a robust digital oversight system—the Online National Drug Licensing System (ONDLS)—under the leader

India’s PM2.5 NCD Burden

Air pollution has emerged as one of the gravest health crises in India. According to the State of Global Air (SoGA) 2025 report, jointly published by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) and the Ins

8th Pay Commission Update

The 8th Pay Commission, approved by the Union Cabinet in January 2025, is a significant milestone for central government employees and pensioners. Scheduled to roll out from January 1, 2026, this

Extreme Poverty Free State

In a historic development for India’s social development journey, Kerala becomes the first extreme poverty-free state. The announcement will be officially made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vij

Article 371 for Ladakh Explained

In a significant political development, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has proposed granting Article 371-like provisions for Ladakh during recent discussions with the Leh Apex Body (LAB)