The Hindu : Front Page : Nod for quicker promotions; the Army will look younger now

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 17, 2004

Front Page

Front Page

Nod for quicker promotions; the Army will look younger now

By Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI, DEC. 16. The Government today approved faster promotions for Army officers up to the rank of Colonel to reduce their age profile at the combat level and ensure that they get promotions commensurate with their jobs.

With this step, likely to be implemented from January 1, 750 additional ranks of Colonels will be created. The cases of the other two services — Air Force and Navy — will be processed separately.

Calling it the first part of the Ajay Vikram Singh Committee Report to reduce stagnation and create a younger age profile, the Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, hoped that the sharpness of the field formations would increase. "There will be mobility within the cadre and officers will continue to remain motivated," observed the Chief of the Army Staff, N.C. Vij.

With this, a Lieutenant will be promoted to the rank of Captain in two years instead of the present four, a Captain will become a Major after six years instead of 10, a Lt. Colonel after 13 years against the present 18 to 19 years and Colonel after 26 years of service.

"The concept of the report was the need to decrease the age profile of field commanders at the battalion and brigade levels. Over the years, we found that the average age of field commanders was on the higher side. This was not conducive to active field operations," said its author and now Defence Secretary, Ajai Vikram Singh.

"There were certain issues relating to the career prospects in the Army and the need to keep the Army as an attractive career for young people. The cumulative effect will be a younger age profile. However, this is only the first part and deals with improving the career prospects of non-select ranks. We wanted the number of years that an officer puts in service to be reduced.

The Ministry of Finance has today given its consent."

"That is not the end of the story. The remaining 11 recommendations will be taken up with the Ministry of Finance in batches.

Some relate to the Department of Personnel and one is about giving opportunity to officers to work in the private sector," he said.

"We will increase the intake for short service commission officers at the Officers' Training Academy after all the recommendations are accepted. Over the years, the implementation of the recommendations will help us bridge the shortfall of 12,000 officers," said Rana S.K. Kapoor of the Army Headquarters who piloted the recommendations. While the number of Lieutenants and Colonels will increase, the number of Captains and Majors will decrease, Lt.Gen. Kapoor said.

Meanwhile, retired officers met Mr. Mukherjee and sought implementation of the one-rank-one-pension concept.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News Update

Stories in this Section

Somnath offers to step down

We are a responsible nuclear power, says Manmohan

Nod for quicker promotions; the Army will look younger now

Supreme Court reserves verdict on BCCI appeal

The "common man's DTH" is here

Human failure may have caused accident: Lalu

`Osama' praises Jeddah attack

Sensex climbs to new peak

Zahira's mother convicted for contempt of court

Top Iraqi official killed, cleric attacked

Sea Harrier crash-lands