Vice Admiral Arti Sarin is first woman to head Armed Forces Medical Services

Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, who is now the highest-ranking woman officer to have ever served in the Indian Armed Forces, was honoured with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in July 2024 by President Droupadi Murmu.

In Short

• Arti Sarin is now highest-ranking woman officer ever to have served in Indian Armed Forces
• Recenlty appointed as member of National Task Force
• She was honoured with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in July 2024

Vice Admiral Arti Sarin was on Tuesday appointed as the next Director General of the Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS). She has become the first woman officer ever to take over as the head of the Tri-service Armed Forces Medical Services and is also the highest ranking woman officer ever to have served in the Indian Armed Forces.

The DGAFMS is directly responsible to the Ministry of Defence for overall medical policy matters related to the Armed Forces.

Commissioned in 1985, Vice Admiral Sarin graduated from the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune. She has two postgraduate degrees in Radiodiagnosis and Radiation Oncology and is trained in gamma knife surgery.

She has held numerous key positions throughout her career. She has served as the Director General of Medical Services for both the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. Vice Admiral Sarin has commanded two major units - INHS Asvini and AFMC, and has been the Command Medical Officer of the Southern Naval Command (SNC) and the Western Naval Command (WNC).

An advocate for promoting young women to join the Armed Forces, she was recently appointed as a member of the National Task Force by the Supreme Court to formulate safe working conditions and protocols for medical professionals.

She was honoured with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) by President Droupadi Murmu for her exceptional service in July 2024.