Indian Military Facing Crisis due to officer shortage

[Waffen SS]

By Lt Gen. Mukesh Sabharwal (retd)

In any periodic press conference or media interaction by the defence minister or the chief of army staff on Army Day, Republic Day, or Vijay Diwas, one question is a permanent feature: what is the status of officer shortages in the Indian Army and how are the authorities planning to tackle the crisis? No minister or chief has ever denied that there is an acute shortage, and yet no realistic assessment is provided regarding the implications related to operational efficiency or human resource management.

What is being done is never articulated cogently to the press or public, either at media interaction sessions or even in parliamentary debates, which are generally restricted to the question hour and hardly ever discussed because of their relative low priority.

The questions that merit immediate attention are one, the extent of the shortage; two, implications on operations of the Army; three, the reality check on intake; four, the reasons for the continuous deficiency; and finally the suggested approach to address it.

The Current Status
Whereas the air force has a deficiency of only five per cent officers and the navy is short of 21 per cent, the army is the most critically affected with a shortage of about 23 per cent. Of the army's sanctioned strength of 47,762 officers, the held strength is only 36,790. It is not as if this shortage has emerged recently. The shortfall ranged from 12-15 per cent in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Emergency and Short Service Commissions (SSC) spurred by wars during that period were the preferred approach to bridge the gap. The next three decades, however, saw the shortage rise up to 24-25 per cent.

Significantly, there are no deficiencies in the higher ranks of Colonel and above. The criticality lies in the lower part of the pyramid at the level of captains, majors and lieutenant colonels. And what is more, this shortage translates to a reduction in strength at the regiment and battalion level, which is the cutting edge of the army.

How serious is officer shortage in the Indian Army and how can it be addressed

CRISIS IN ARMY – Officers Shortage | Defence and Security of India

If things continue to happen what will happen to Indian Military?

@Ray, @Kunal Biswas.

Indian army jobs should be made more attractive, lucrative and there should be some strict conditions in Early voluntary retirement such as early retirement not allowed before 45 age, early retirement will stop all pensions etc.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

I think @Ray Sir can shed more light in ..

==================

Every thing is there to make recruitment attractive ..

But, Imho there are problem in recruitment board, Let me put this way .. >>

There are thousands of people apply for defense forces, Hundreds get selected then they clear all written examinations, But in interview ' Batches ' after 'batches' get di-selected , That is an area of concern ..

We should make interviews softer in such crises and try to improve cadets in there training, In absence of officer, JCO are there to take over responsibilities in many scenario..

 

[Blackwater]

Defense jobs are no longer attractive in Indian middle and upper class society.

i myself studied in KV (central school) all my class mates who in touch with me and they are sons of defense officers ,had not joined defense forces..

status of defence forces are not same as in Pakistan

 

[Kunal Biswas]

You are old man ..

Defense jobs are no longer attractive in Indian middle and upper class society.

 

[Blackwater]

You are old man ..

and u r a emotional man..

 

[t_co]

Why does India need such large land forces anyhow? Shrink the manpower pool, free up cash, and spend it on air, naval, space, and C4ISR assets.

I'd imagine a lot of junior officers would like to pick up useful civilian skills while they're in the military. By focusing on those types of assets, the IA would naturally train its junior officers on a lot of tech applications that can be easily transferred to a civilian occupation. Let's face it - 75%+ of junior officers will not reach the senior officer corps - so why force them out with skills that are only useful in the military?

 

[Ray]

There are many reasons why there is a shortage in the officer cadre of the Army.

First, even though the pay is way better than ever before, the manner in which it is projected to the country's youth is totally bureaucratic and mindlessly boring. It is no good saying – "Do you have it in you?" It is the ideal way to put off a chap with this supercilious nose in the air advertisement.

Then there are those still showing golf and some adventure sports. It may attract some pleasure loving youth, but when they see reality, they are disheartened and quit, while undergoing training itself!

There is the fear of dying young that keeps many away, especially those who are of the upper crust and have no financial necessities.

The esteem that the military had in the earlier years is no longer there. The military is bashed and downgraded in status with Machiavellian precision by the district administration, by the bureaucrats at the Centre and the politicians.

Then the youth sees the total disdain, neglect and callousness in which the Govt treats the killings of the soldiers and officers at the LC, and instead go jaw jawing with the very people who with impunity kills our soldiers and officers.

Today's youth is comfort loving, like it or not. Who wants a continually disturbed family life where there is constant change of location and interrupted schooling of their children?

On the other hand, they see a better and a steady life in the corporate world, where the pay and perks are better. Then, if Govt service is the desire, what could be better than the IAS, IPS, Allied Services etc, where they can lord over the people reliving the legacy of the colonial days of the mai baap feudal jagirdari

Given that, who will join the military?