Captain Hansja Sharma Becomes Indian Army's First Woman Pilot of Rudra Armed Helicopter

Exam-focused facts from the 30 January 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Captain Hansja Sharma, aged 27, became the first woman in the Indian Army qualified to fly the Rudra armed helicopter.
She topped her training at the Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS) in Nashik and became the first woman to receive the Silver Cheetah Trophy for best combat aviator.
She commanded the 251 Army Aviation Squadron at the 2026 Army Day Parade held in Rajasthan on 15 January.
During the parade, she led the showcase of the HELINA missile system, highlighting the role of women in combat aviation.
She also secured the top position in the 107th Air Traffic Management course at the Air Force Academy (AFA).
Born on 9 March 1998 in Jammu, she is a former National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadet who studied Zoology at the University of Jammu.