Indian Army still facing a dearth of officers: Need to change Recruitment policy and to increase Reservation quota

New Delhi, Nov 12  The Indian Army is grappling with an acute shortage of officers. Despite the recession, it has been unable to attract more talent and contain their outflow. In 2008, the army was able to take in 1,500 officers - but over 1,800 left the force.

The army now faces a shortage of 11,238 officers.
'It is a very peculiar situation. Despite the recession and relaxation of our requirements the number of officers leaving the army is more than the number of officers we have managed to take in,' a senior officer familiar with the situation told IANS.
'What adds to the worry is that the negative inflow has been witnessed despite an economic slump,' he added.
The negative flow of the officers in the army has been witnessed since 2007 when nearly 1,780 officers resigned or retired, compared to the intake of about 1,750. While there has been a constant outflow of officers in the past, the army had managed to induct more before that year.
The army received 535 voluntary retirement applications in 2005, 810 in 2006, and 1,265 in 2007. The defence ministry's approval depends on the need of the armed forces. The army approved voluntary retirement for 365 officers in 2005, 464 in 2006 and 608 in 2007.
'Concerned by the situation, we have made it mandatory that officers with less than 15 years service will be considered for premature retirement or resignation only on medical grounds,' another officer said.
The army's sanctioned strength is 46,615 officers, but it has been facing a shortage of 11,238. The problem was aggravated when about 3,000 officers sought premature retirement in the last three years. Most of them moved to the lucrative corporate sector.
The data for 2009 has not been compiled yet.
'But there has been an increase in the number of withdrawals of premature retirement applications since January 2009. We hope that the trend will be reversed this year,' the officer said.
'In the past six months 65 officers have withdrawn their applications for premature retirement.'
Now, the army is hoping the financial crisis and the Sixth Pay Commission -- which has increased their salaries -- will help bring in many more to the armed forces that is facing a shortage of middle-rung officers in particular.