Indian Army To Be Downsized By 27,000 Soldiers With Aim To Cap Strength At 12.5 Lakh

As a part of reformation drive, the Indian Army now plans to reduce its workforce by 27,000 soldiers in organisations not part of its regular field units. The government is believed to save around Rs 1600 crore by the move which is a part of the plan to limit the number of soldiers to 12.5 lakh.

There are nearly 1.75 lakh officers and soldiers deployed in organisations ranging from the Military Engineer Services, National Cadet Corps, Border Roads Organisation, Territorial Army and Sainik Schools to Assam Rifles, Rashtriya Rifles and Strategic Forces Command, all of which do not come under the regular Army.

The proposal aims to withdraw soldiers deployed in ‘non-core activities’ in such establishments. It has recommended the reduction in the Army workforce by about 27,000 soldiers as well as their restructuring for better efficiency and effectiveness, The Times Of India reported.

Thee restructuring will take into account the future requirements and how to make the military lean and mean.

Plan Sent To Defence Ministry

The proposed cutdown of 1.5 lakh army personnel in the workforce will take place in the coming six to seven years and is expected to save around Rs 6000-7000 crores annually.

The measures include the relocation of 229 officers on staff duties to frontline operational posts and creation of a new position of Deputy Chief for military operations, logistics and strategic planning.

The growing strength at the Army headquarters has reduced the availability of trained and experienced workforce at the frontline. In the existing unwieldy structure at New Delhi, many branches and directorates are overlapping in their roles as per the report.

The army is raising new integrated battle groups that can strike hard against Pakistan and China, as a part of its existing endeavour to revamp its entire warfighting machinery read the report.

The aim is to raise about three Integrated Battle Groups in Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan for the Pakistan border by November, while the ones for China will be raised under the new 17 Mountain Strike Corps.

Cadre Restructuring In Past

The army in 2018, had conducted four studies on the reorganisation of the forces. It suggested flattening headquarters at different levels, cadre review and engagement of officers and jawans. The changes were to be implemented after the required approvals. The last restructuring took place in 2004 that led to the reduction of age limit for Colonels and Brigadiers.

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