Bangalore: Faced with fratricidal killings and suicides, the Indian Army is to introduce psychological personality tests in the selection of other ranks (ORs). The tests, which will be introduced from December, are aimed at eliminating candidates with psychological and personality problems from joining the Army. The Army has an active troop strength of over 1.1 million and is the second largest in the world.

Hitherto psychological tests were only used in the selection of officers, with candidates seeking to enlist as ORs only being checked for their broad physical attributes and rudimentary communicative and literate skills. But a marginal increase in the number of suicides (nine out of one lakh troops) and fratricidal killings, especially among troops posted in the forward areas or in areas where the Army is involved in low intensity conflicts (LIC), has prompted the Army to ascertain the social adaptability, social concerns and emotional quotient of candidates before they are recruited.

Ministry of Defence sources confirmed to The Hindu that the new evaluation standards would be "constructed, standardised and implemented by December." While the new tests will initially be used only by the Army, they could if found successful be utilised in the selection of airmen and naval recruits.

The psychological tests are part of the recommendations made by the Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR). At the behest of Defence Minister A.K. Antony, a team consisting of psychologists and other officials from the Institute studied the reasons for the increase in the number of suicides.

Welfare measures

According to the DIPR report, abnormal behaviour is triggered by stress that could be personal, familial or occupational. Among the welfare measures that the report has suggested are incentives for personnel posted in field postings and anti-insurgency areas, strict adherence to peace station and field tenure postings, a review of the leave policy (ensuring that a jawan gets leave when he needs it), evolving of a mechanism to solve family problems, and initiating steps for closer cohesiveness between officers and troops.

The DIPR has also recommended that there be changes in management and leadership, and a revitalising and reorientation of the training for both men and officers serving in the LIC/counter insurgency areas. The report, which was reviewed by Mr. Antony on three occasions, called for a flattened, communicative hierarchy, especially in areas of LIC and counter-insurgency operations, rather than a participatory or delegatory hierarchy. To help in the training reorientation, the Army will initially train 50 junior commissioned officers as instructors/counsellors. The numbers will increase to 500 over a period of time.

Mr. Antony has already spoken to Chief Ministers asking that the States take care of the welfare of defence personnel. The Defence Secretary has also written to Chief Secretaries asking that the States to implement the welfare measures recommended by the DIPR.

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