Who Is Major Navya Shekhawat? First Woman Army ADC Salary, VVIP Perks and Role Explained
Major Navya Shekhawat of the Army Service Corps historically assumed duties as ADC to President Droupadi Murmu, becoming the first woman Army officer in the role (second overall) with standard Level 11 compensation and VVIP perks. Scroll below to know who Major Navya Shekhawat and her roles and responsibilities.
Major Navya Shekhawat of the Army Service Corps has assumed duties as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Droupadi Murmu, marking a historic first for a woman officer from the Indian Army in the presidential household.
Who Is Major Navya Shekhawat?
Hailing from Kerpura village in Rajasthan's Sikar district, Major Shekhawat cleared the UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam and trained at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, reports The Times of India. Commissioned into the Army Service Corps in 2021, she reached the rank of Major within roughly five years and assumed the high-profile ADC assignment in 2026. Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal, Who Served as President Droupadi Murmu's ADC, Takes Early Retirement.
She is the second woman overall to serve as the President's ADC, following Navy officer Lt. Commander Yashasvi Solanki in 2025.
- Rank & Pay Level: Serving as a Major under Level 11 of the 7th Pay Commission, baseline pay starts around INR 69,700 per month, reports News 18 Hindi.
- Total Compensation: With Military Service Pay (MSP) of INR 15,500 monthly plus Dearness Allowance (DA) and applicable military/protocol allowances, gross monthly earnings range between INR 1.2 lakh and INR 1.5 lakh or higher.
- Accommodation: VVIP standard residential allocation within or immediately adjacent to Rashtrapati Bhavan, with government-covered electricity, water, and maintenance.
- Transport & Logistics: Dedicated high-security official transport provisioned for round-the-clock movement accompanying the President.
- Healthcare & Insurance: Comprehensive military medical coverage (Military Hospitals/empaneled facilities) for self and dependents, alongside standard armed forces life insurance and retirement/pension benefits. What Rishabh Singh Sambyal Said in His First Video After Taking Early Retirement.
Role and Ceremonial Responsibilities
An ADC's mandate extends beyond ceremonial presence at Rashtrapati Bhavan investitures and national functions. ADCs manage critical coordination, communication, and protocol support across domestic and international itineraries. Traditionally, the President has five ADCs - three from the Army and one each from the Navy and Air Force - making Major Shekhawat's appointment a significant institutional milestone for gender inclusion in core military staff roles. Before Major Navya Shekhawat, Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal held this post and took early retirement.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 17, 2026 03:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
