Rajasthan, became the first woman from the Indian Air Force to summit the Mount Everest. In 2015, Indian Air Force opened new combat air force roles for women as fighter pilots, adding to their role as helicopter pilots in the Indian Air Force. On 22 May 2019, Bhawana Kanth became the first woman fighter pilot to qualify to undertake combat missions. Women are now taking up combat roles in Indian Air Force with Avani Chaturvedi, Mohana Singh Jitarwal, and Bhawana Kanth being the first 3 women fighter pilots Marking International Women's Day on 8 March 8, 2020 all 3 fighter pilots were awarded Nari Shakti Puraskar. Wing Commander Shaliza Dhami became the first woman officer to be given permanent commission with the Indian Air Force. Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal became the first woman to receive a Yudh Seva Medal. Indian Navy In October 1976, Dr. Barbara Ghosh became the first woman officer in the Indian Navy to attain the rank of commander. Having joined the navy in 1961, she was also the first woman medical officer to receive a permanent naval commission. Dr. Punita Arora, commissioned in 1968, is the first woman in the Indian Army to reach the second highest rank, Lieutenant General, and the first female Vice Admiral. Padmavathy Bandopadhyay is the first woman Air Marshal of the IAF and the second woman in the Indian armed forces to be promoted to a three-star rank after Lt. General Punita Arora. Nonetheless, the Indian Navy still opposes the idea of putting women in warships as sailors or officers, even though women fly on maritime patrol aircraft like P8I and IL 38. On 8 March 2018, International Women's Day the six-member crew of INSV Tarini that participated in Navika Sagar Parikrama namely Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi, Lt Cdr P. Swathi, Lt Cdr Pratibha Jammwal, Lt Payal Gupta, Lt Aishwarya Boddapati, and Lt Shourgrakpam Vijaya Devi were conferred Nari Shakti Puraskar for outstanding contribution towards women empowerment. The award was received by Lieutenant Shourgrakpam Vijaya Devi, who is Northeast India's first female officer on behalf of team. On 2 December 2019, Sub-lieutenant Shubhangi Swaroop became the first woman pilot for the Indian Navy. She will be flying the Dornier 228 surveillance aircraft. On 26 August 2021, Surgeon Vice Admiral Sheila S. Mathai became the fourth woman to be promoted to three-star rank and the first direct navy woman vice-admiral. Special Forces