Vice Admiral Arti Sarin has been appointed as the next Director General of the Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), marking a historic milestone as she becomes the first woman to hold this position. Additionally, she is now recognized as the highest-ranking female officer in the Indian Armed Forces.

The DGAFMS plays a crucial role in overseeing medical policy matters for the Armed Forces, reporting directly to the Ministry of Defence.

Commissioned in 1985, Vice Admiral Sarin is an alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune. She holds two postgraduate degrees in Radiodiagnosis and Radiation Oncology and is trained in gamma knife surgery.

Throughout her distinguished career, Vice Admiral Sarin has held several key roles, including serving as the Director General of Medical Services for both the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. She has commanded significant units such as INHS Asvini and AFMC and has served as the Command Medical Officer for both the Southern Naval Command (SNC) and the Western Naval Command (WNC).

A strong advocate for increasing female representation in the Armed Forces, she was recently appointed as a member of the National Task Force by the Supreme Court to establish safe working conditions and protocols for medical professionals.

In recognition of her exceptional service, Vice Admiral Sarin was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) by President Droupadi Murmu in July 2024.