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Sub lieutenant Shivangi on Monday carved out a place for herself in naval aviation history by becoming the first woman pilot in the Indian Navy, a defence ministry spokesperson said.

Hailing from Muzzafarpur in Bihar, Shivangi will be flying the Naval Dornier surveillance aircraft.

She used to be commissioned into the Indian Navy superior year after her preliminary practising.

From Anshula Kant (World Bank's first female CFO) to Pratiksha Das (Mumbai's first female BEST bus driver), Indian women are breaking the invisible barrier or glass ceiling shutting them out of male-dominated professions including the armed forces. They were not in the cockpit, but were just observers. The Indian Navy gets its first woman pilot. She said that it is like a dream come true.

"I still have my last stage of training left, which will equip me for maritime reconnaissance and several other roles on the Dornier". Shivangi said she and her parents plan to celebrate her achievement with a "quiet dinner".

Sub Lieutenant Shivangi will fly the Dornier for another six months of mission-based flying. "I was filled with unexplained joy to see her at the passing out parade in her white uniform and cap", says father Haribhushan Singh over the telephone.

"People were very supportive, I never felt like I am the only lady here, so that was because of my squadron and my instructors and all the people here..."

Archana Masih/ on the young naval officer making waves in the Indian Navy.

The FOC-in-C South Rolling Trophy for standing first in overall order of merit was awarded to Lieutenant Shivam Pandey.

The three officers completed a year of flying training at the Air Force Academy (AFA) in Dundigal and the INAS 550.