New Delhi: General Punita Arora will become the first woman in the Indian Army to don the highest rank of Lt General when she takes over as Commandant of the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune next week.

Arora, who joined the Army Medical Corps as a doctor in 1968, has been approved to pick up the rank of Lt General next week, Army officials said.

Arora is presently Additional Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services and is a recipient of 15 medals in her long chequered career in battle fatigues.

Unlike other wings of the Armed forces where women can become only captains and majors due to a ten-year tenure ceiling under the Short Service Commission (SSC), those serving in the medical services can go up to retirement.

The Army Chief Gen N C Vij has recently indicated that moves were afoot to change the rules to extend the woman's career in battle fatigues up to 15 years.