No discernible decreasing trend in number of officers in Army: Antony

NEW DELHI - Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Wednesday said that no discernible decreasing trend in the number of officers in Army has been observed.

“In Army, sanctioned strength of officers is 47,864 with a shortage of 12,510. The shortage of officers in the Armed Forces is partly attributable to accretions from time to time, tough selection procedures, difficult service conditions coupled with perceived high degree of risk involved in service career,” Antony said in a written reply to Anusuiya Uikay in the Rajya Sabha.

“Measures have been taken on an ongoing basis to reduce shortages in the officers’ cadre. In this regard, a number of steps have been taken to attract the talented youth to join the Armed Forces,” he added.

All officers including those in Short Service Commission (SSC) are now eligible to hold substantive rank of Caption, Major and Lieutenant colonel after two, six and 13 years of reckonable service respectively.

The tenure of SSC officers has been increased from 10 years to 14 years.

Antony also said that the Armed Forces have undertaken sustained image projection and publicity campaign to create awareness among the youth on the advantages of taking up a challenging and satisfying career.

“Awareness campaigns, participation in career fairs and exhibition, advertisements in print and electronic media, motivational lectures in schools, colleges are also some of the other measures in this direction,” the Defence Minister said. (ANI)