Actually, Harita Kaur Dayal is not the first woman pilot in the Indian Air Force. The distinction of being the first woman pilot in the Indian Air Force goes to **Flight Lieutenant ** Gunjan Saxena. She was a pioneering figure who broke barriers for women in the Indian Armed Forces.

Gunjan Saxena: The First Woman Pilot in the Indian Air Force

•  Gunjan Saxena , January 1975, in Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
•  She joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a Flight Lieutenant in 1996.
• Significant Achievement: First woman pilot to fly in a combat zone during the Kargil War of 1999.

1. Gunjan Saxena is best known for her role during the Kargil War in 1999. She flew Cheetah helicopters in combat and played a key role in rescue operations, evacuating wounded soldiers from the frontline.
2. Her courage and determination during the war earned her widespread recognition and made her a role model for women aspiring to join the military.
3. Gunjan Saxena was part of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) short service commission and was assigned to the Army Aviation Corps. She was trained as a helicopter pilot, which gave her the opportunity to serve in operations like those during the Kargil conflict.
4. Saxena received several accolades for her role in the Kargil War, including the Shaurya Chakra, one of India’s prestigious peacetime military decorations, awarded for her acts of bravery.
5. Gunjan Saxena retired from the Indian Air Force in 2004 after serving with distinction.

• Harita Kaur Dayal was also a significant figure in the history of women pilots in the Indian Air Force, but she was not the first. She was among the first batch of women to join the IAF as pilots in 1996, alongside Gunjan Saxena. She joined the Flying Branch of the IAF and was commissioned as a pilot in 1997.
• Harita Kaur Dayal became one of the first female pilots to fly fighter aircraft in the Indian Air Force, a remarkable achievement that further paved the way for more women in combat aviation roles in India. However, Gunjan Saxena holds the distinction of being the first to fly in a combat zone.

• Gunjan Saxena’s groundbreaking journey as the first woman pilot to fly in a combat zone continues to inspire many young women who aspire to join the Indian Armed Forces.
• Both Gunjan Saxena and Harita Kaur Dayal made significant contributions to women’s empowerment in the military, especially in the Indian Air Force.