Indian Army to undergo major reforms

Why in news?

• In a major move, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has approved the first batch of reforms in the Army which include relocation of 229 officers from the Army headquarters, creation of a new post of Deputy Chief for Military Operations and Strategic Planning, and setting up new wings for vigilance and human rights issues.
• Finalised after 12 independent studies, the reforms are intended to make the 1.3 million-strong force leaner and meaner.

What are the reforms?

• The number of officers being moved out was 20% of the number of officers in the Army headquarters in the national capital, and they would be deployed in forward locations along the borders with China and Pakistan.
• They said the post of Deputy Chief of the Army Staff, Strategy, is being created to deal with military operations, intelligence, strategic planning and operational logistics.
• The reforms will also include restructuring the Army’s officer cadre, bringing down age of key commands, arresting rising revenue expenditure and resizing the force

What to know?

• The Army has a total strength of around 12 lakh personnel and is one of leading ground force globally.
• Civilians will be redeployed in different wings of the armed forces for improving efficiency.
• Army sources said around 31,000 civilian staff will be redeployed including in new formations, adding reform will be carried out in the Army’s education corp as well.
• The Shekatkar committee was appointed in May last year and it had submitted its report in December.
• It said optimisation of signals establishments will include radio monitoring companies, corps air support signal regiments, air formation signal regiments, composite signal regiments and merger of corps operating and engineering signal regiments.
• The reform will also be carried out to ensure better utilisation of supply and transport facilities and animal transport units.

(Defense)(The hindu, Business line)

Pic courtesy:The Hindu