Strengthening Defence

·         On May 22, 2008 Ministry of Defence agreed to have about 2,700 additional posts distributed at the top-level across the three services (seen as a move to placate armed forces in view of insufficient financial benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission).

·         The increase in posts has come about after the chiefs of the three services arrived at a consensus on the ratio of distributing the posts across their respective services.

·         The A.V. Singh Committee on Defence in its second part of its recommendations had suggested that the number of posts be increased for operational reasons.

·         The other major recommendation in the second part of the committee report is to increase the ratio of the short service commissioned (SSC) officers and make it 60:40 favouring the SSC.

·         At present it is 60:40 favouring the regular commissioned officers. This will also form a part of the Cabinet note, when prepared, said sources while adding that the addition of more SSC officers had not been opposed by anyone.

·         The first part of the A.V. Singh Committee has already been implemented some two years back.

·         Under this, an officer joining as a Lieutenant, and serves the full term, has now been assured of promotion till the rank of Lieut Col. Earlier, promotions till the rank of Major were assured. After today’s development it will open up promotion avenues in the forces. This is aimed at increasing the operational ability as the sphere of duties of the forces has increased in the past few years.

·         This is the first addition of posts in the forces in the past 20 years. The last such increase took place some time in 1988. Since then, The Rashtriya Rifles has been raised, the integrated defence staff and several other electronic warfare units have come up all the while the number of posts remained the same.

·         The increase in posts will be in the rank of Colonel and above and also the corresponding ranks of the Indian Air Force and the Navy.

·         The existing posts will be upgraded meaning thereby the work being handled by a Colonel will be done by Brigadier, explained sources.

·         The tentative suggested increase in the Army is: Lieut-Gen — 20 more posts (existing 68); Major-General — 75 more (existing 199); Brigadier — 222 more (existing 824) and Colonel 1,484 (existing 3389).

·         IAF: Air Marshal — 70 more (existing 22), Air Vice-Marshal — 32 more (existing 47), Air Commodore — 158 more (existing 131) and group Captain — 592 more (existing 476).

·         Navy: Vice-Admiral — 7 more (existing 15); Rear Admiral — 10 more (existing 43) and Commodores and Captain — 49 more (existing 418).

·         The proposal will be placed before the Union Cabinet in the coming few days, where it is expected to sail through.