{
  "id": 233798,
  "title": "Bhawana becomes India’s 1st woman ‘Top Gun’; Capt Shivani 1st woman ADC to Army chief",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/bhawana-becomes-indias-1st-woman-top-gun-capt-shivani-1st-woman-adc",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-06T19:52:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/defence/sq-ldr-bhawana-kanth-becomes-indias-first-woman-top-gun-capt-shivani-1st-female-officer-adc-to-army-chief/articleshow/133014214.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a historic milestone for Indian women, Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has emerged as the country's first female 'Top Gun' combat pilot following her successful completion of the rigorous Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course. This achievement comes nearly a decade after the fighter stream was officially opened to women in the Indian Air Force (IAF).\n\nCaptain Shivani Sehrawat also marked a significant milestone in the Indian Army by becoming the first woman officer to be appointed as the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Army chief. Her appointment was made in mid-July and she has since been serving under the new Army chief, General Dhiraj Seth.\n\nBoth Kanth and Sehrawat represent a wave of women breaking barriers in their respective military branches. Kanth, commissioned in June 2016 as one of the first three women fighter pilots, outperformed her peers to earn the coveted 'Top Gun' title. The FCL course, akin to the prestigious 'Top Gun' programme in the United States, is an elite training program where only about 1% of all IAF pilots are selected. Graduates of this course play a crucial role in refining combat tactics, operational planning, and weapons employment.\n\nSehrawat's appointment as ADC to the Army chief underscores the Indian Army's commitment to gender inclusion. She has started serving in this prestigious role since mid-July.",
  "summary": "Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has made history by becoming India's first woman 'Top Gun' combat pilot, having successfully cleared the rigorous Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course. This course, akin to the US Navy's renowned 'Top Gun' programme, is highly selective, with only about 1% of all Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots being chosen. In a separate but equally significant development, Captain Shivani Sehrawat has become the first woman officer to be appointed Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Army chief, marking a major milestone in the Indian Army's journey towards greater gender inclusion.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}