Civilian Female Skydivers in India (May 2025)

Skydiving, once considered an extreme sport reserved for the daring few, is gaining momentum in India.

Among the trailblazers are Indian women who have taken to the skies, defying gravity and stereotypes.

This article celebrates civilian female skydivers from India, showcasing their achievements state by state and Union Territory by Union Territory.

Notably, many regions are yet to see their first female skydiver. Still, with the sport’s rising popularity, we anticipate a surge of women embracing this thrilling adventure in the near future.

Below is a comprehensive list, updated as of May 29, 2025, excluding military personnel.

Padmashree Awardee Female Skydivers from India

Two remarkable women skydivers from India have been honored with the prestigious Padmashree award for their contributions to adventure sports:

• Rachel Thomas (Delhi) – Awarded the Padmashree in 2005, Rachel is India’s first civilian female skydiver. She started skydiving in 1979, completed over 800 jumps, and became the first Indian woman to skydive over the North Pole. Her book LIMITLESS inspires many, and her legacy continues to shape India’s skydiving community.
• Shital Mahajan (Pune, Maharashtra) – Honored with the Padmashree in 2011, Shital is a global icon with over 800 jumps. She is the first Indian woman to skydive over both the North and South Poles, all seven continents, and in front of Mount Everest. A wingsuit flyer and BASE jumper, she holds six world records and 17 national records, inspiring countless women to take up skydiving.

5 Active Female Skydivers to Follow on Instagram

These five active female skydivers are pushing boundaries and sharing their thrilling journeys on Instagram. Follow them for inspiration and updates on their skydiving adventures:

• Shital Mahajan – Based in Pune, Shital is a Padmashree awardee with over 800 jumps. Her Instagram showcases her record-breaking jumps, including those over the North and South Poles, and her efforts to promote skydiving in India.
• Shweta Parmar (@skydivershweta) – Gujarat’s first civilian female skydiver, Shweta has 400 jumps and runs the SkydiveIndiaCampaign to mentor aspiring skydivers. Her Instagram features her daring jumps, including one with a ‘Jai Shri Ram’ flag at 13,000 feet.
• Anamika Sharma – A skydiving coach from Prayagraj with over 500 jumps, Anamika’s Instagram is a hub for adventure enthusiasts, showcasing her expertise and passion for skydiving.
• Isha Raj – Based in Abu Dhabi, Isha has over 135 jumps and shares her skydiving experiences on Instagram, inviting others to join her for jumps in the UAE.
• Saroj Kumari – India’s youngest female skydiver from Jaipur, born in 2002, Saroj holds a USPA-C license with over 200 jumps. Her Instagram captures her vibrant energy and skydiving feats.

State-wise List of Civilian Female Skydivers

The following table lists civilian female skydivers across India’s 28 states and 8 Union Territories, highlighting regions with active skydivers and those yet to see participation. Updated as of May 29, 2025.

State/Union Territory	Name(s)
Andhra Pradesh	Divya Surepalli, Sandhya Macha
Arunachal Pradesh	N/A
Assam	N/A
Bihar	N/A
Chhattisgarh	N/A
Goa	N/A
Gujarat	Shweta Parmar, Shivangi Desai, Jinal Patel
Haryana	N/A
Himachal Pradesh	N/A
Jharkhand	N/A
Karnataka	N/A
Kerala	N/A
Madhya Pradesh	N/A
Maharashtra	Shital Mahajan
Manipur	N/A
Meghalaya	N/A
Mizoram	N/A
Nagaland	N/A
Odisha	N/A
Punjab	Maninder Kaur
Rajasthan	Saroj Kumari
Sikkim	N/A
Tamil Nadu	N/A
Telangana	Spurti Roy
Tripura	N/A
Uttar Pradesh	Anamika Sharma
Uttarakhand	Ankita Sharma
West Bengal	N/A
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	N/A
Chandigarh	N/A
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu	N/A
Delhi	Rachel Thomas
Jammu and Kashmir	Archana Sardana
Ladakh	N/A
Lakshadweep	N/A
Puducherry	N/A

Updated on May 29, 2025

Andhra Pradesh

• Divya Surepalli (Visakhapatnam) – With over 30 jumps, Divya is a passionate skydiver who has inspired many in her region.
• Sandhya Macha (Proddatur) – Holding an A License from Skydive Thailand with 33 jumps, Sandhya is an active skydiver who enjoys tracking and wingsuiting. She is working toward her B License.

Arunachal Pradesh

No civilian female skydivers have been recorded from Arunachal Pradesh yet. As skydiving gains traction, we hope to see women from this state join the ranks.

Assam

Assam currently has no recorded civilian female skydivers. The state’s adventure sports scene is still developing, but the future looks promising.

Bihar

Bihar has yet to see a civilian female skydiver. With growing awareness, we expect this to change soon.

Chhattisgarh

No civilian female skydivers are recorded from Chhattisgarh. The state’s focus on adventure tourism may soon inspire women to take up skydiving.

Goa

Despite its vibrant tourism scene, Goa has no recorded civilian female skydivers. The state’s coastal allure could soon attract skydiving enthusiasts.

Gujarat

• Shweta Parmar (Vadodara) – With 400 jumps, Shweta is a prominent figure who started the SkydiveIndiaCampaign, mentoring 100 skydivers without fees.
• Shivangi Desai (Gandhinagar) – A certified health, nutrition, and life coach, Shivangi is an active skydiver, though her jump count is not specified.
• Jinal Patel (Ahmedabad) – A travelpreneur with 10 jumps, Jinal completed her Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) course in Thailand and is eager to continue her skydiving journey.

Haryana

Haryana has no recorded civilian female skydivers yet. Its proximity to Delhi’s adventure hubs may soon inspire women to take the plunge.

Himachal Pradesh

No civilian female skydivers are recorded from Himachal Pradesh, despite its adventure sports popularity. The state’s mountainous terrain could soon host skydiving events.

Jharkhand

Jharkhand currently lacks civilian female skydivers. As adventure sports grow, we anticipate women from this state joining the skydiving community.

Karnataka

No civilian female skydivers are recorded from Karnataka. With Bangalore’s vibrant culture, skydiving could soon attract women here.

Kerala

Kerala has no recorded civilian female skydivers yet. The state’s tourism industry may soon embrace skydiving as an attraction.

Madhya Pradesh

No civilian female skydivers are recorded from Madhya Pradesh. The state’s adventure tourism potential could spark interest soon.

Maharashtra

• Shital Mahajan (Pune) – With over 800 jumps, Shital is a global icon, the first Indian woman to skydive over both the North and South Poles, all seven continents, and in front of Mount Everest. A Padmashri awardee (2011), she is a wingsuit flyer and BASE jumper.

Manipur

Manipur has no recorded civilian female skydivers. The state’s youth could soon embrace this thrilling sport.

Meghalaya

No civilian female skydivers are recorded from Meghalaya. The state’s scenic beauty could inspire skydiving initiatives.

Mizoram

Mizoram currently has no civilian female skydivers. Adventure sports are yet to take off here, but the potential exists.

Nagaland

No civilian female skydivers are recorded from Nagaland. The state’s adventure tourism could soon include skydiving.

Odisha

Odisha has no recorded civilian female skydivers. With growing tourism, skydiving may soon gain popularity.

Punjab

• Maninder Kaur (Patiala, based in Sharjah, UAE) – With 140 jumps, Maninder is an active skydiver contributing to the sport’s growth.

Rajasthan

• Saroj Kumari (Jaipur) – India’s youngest female skydiver (born October 20, 2002) with over 200 jumps and a USPA-C license, Saroj is a rising star.

Sikkim

Sikkim has no recorded civilian female skydivers. Its adventure tourism sector could soon include skydiving.

Tamil Nadu

No civilian female skydivers are recorded from Tamil Nadu. The state’s youth may soon embrace this sport.

Telangana

• Spurti Roy (Hyderabad) – With 64 jumps and a USPA B License, Spurti is not currently active but remains a notable figure in Telangana’s skydiving scene.

Tripura

Tripura has no recorded civilian female skydivers. The state’s adventure sports scene is yet to develop.

Uttar Pradesh

• Anamika Sharma (Prayagraj) – A skydiving coach with over 500 jumps, Anamika is a prominent figure in India’s adventure sports community.

Uttarakhand

• Ankita Sharma (Dehradun) – A petroleum engineer turned adventure enthusiast, Ankita completed her AFF course in Dubai with 14 jumps in 2014. She also runs homestays in Himachal Pradesh.

West Bengal

No civilian female skydivers are recorded from West Bengal. Kolkata’s vibrant culture could soon inspire skydiving enthusiasts.

Union Territory-wise List of Civilian Female Skydivers

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

No civilian female skydivers are recorded from this Union Territory. Its tourism potential could attract skydiving soon.

Chandigarh

Chandigarh has no recorded civilian female skydivers. Its proximity to adventure hubs may change this soon.

Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu

No civilian female skydivers are recorded from this Union Territory. Adventure sports are yet to gain traction here.

Delhi

• Rachel Thomas – India’s first civilian female skydiver, Rachel started in 1979 with over 800 jumps. She earned an A License, competed internationally, and was the first Indian woman to skydive over the North Pole. A Padmashree awardee (2005), she authored LIMITLESS.

Jammu and Kashmir

• Archana Sardana – With over 300 jumps, Archana is an early pioneer known for her bold spirit, though she is not currently active.

Ladakh

Ladakh has no recorded civilian female skydivers. Its high-altitude terrain could make it an exciting skydiving destination.

Lakshadweep

No civilian female skydivers are recorded from Lakshadweep. The islands’ tourism could soon include skydiving.

Puducherry

Puducherry has no recorded civilian female skydivers. Its coastal charm may soon attract adventure enthusiasts.

The Rising Popularity of Skydiving in India

While many states and Union Territories currently lack civilian female skydivers, the sport is gaining significant popularity across India.

Adventure tourism, coupled with increased access to skydiving facilities and training programs, is encouraging more women to take up this exhilarating activity.

With initiatives like the SkydiveIndiaCampaign and growing awareness, we expect to see many more women from every corner of India soaring through the skies in the coming years.