New Delhi, October 3
In what will change the structure and profile of the Indian armed forces, the Union Cabinet today approved to open up more posts at the top-level.
The cabinet today approved a proposal of the ministry of defence for upgradation of 1,896 posts across the three services. These posts are between Col and Lt-Gen and their parallel ranks in the Navy and Air Force. This will result in quicker promotions as these ranks will be in addition to the existing ranks at the top-level.
The total number of sanctioned posts in the forces remains the same, it is just that there will more openings at the top-level while posts at the middle-level will be rationalised. At present, a vast majority of officers do not make beyond the Lt-Col level. It was at this level that a majority of officers were retiring or were seeking premature release due to stagnation.
This is seen as a major step within the forces to improve career mobility, to fulfil aspirations and to achieve effectiveness by bringing down age profile of commanding officers. The decision of the Cabinet was based on phase-II of the Ajay Vikram Singh Committee (AVSC) report.
The Cabinet also approved the proposal for the reduction in the regular cadre and corresponding increase in the support cadre consisting of short service commissioned (SSC) officers and re-employed officers (for Army). The SSC officers will now comprise about 60 per cent of all ranks at the lower level, that is Lt, Capt, Major and Lt-Col.
Defence minister A.K. Antony played a crucial role in evolving a consensus among the Services. The measures taken today will also lead to progressive promotion of junior batches, without adversely affecting promotional aspects of senior batches, thereby reducing the age profile of officers in select ranks.
The upgradation will be carried out in
the Army over a period of five years, in the Navy over the next ten years and in the Air Force over a period of five years. It may be recalled that the ministry of defence had set up a committee in July 16, 2001, under the chairmanship of Ajay Vikram Singh and had representatives of the three services.
The committee submitted its report in February 2003 and the defence minister accorded in principle approval to the report in September 2003.
The following are the additional posts
Army: 1051; Lt-Gen 20(68); Maj-Gen 75(215); Brig 222(867); Col 784(4240).
Air Force: 503; Air Marshall 6(20); Air Vice-Marshall 21(31); Air Comdr 61(68); Gp Capt 285(415).
Navy: 342; Vice-Admiral 4(18); Rear-Admiral14(54); Commodore/Captain 342(485).
