Mandatory military service for new government employees?
What's the story
Indians wishing to get into government service, take note. Irrespective of your job profile, you might have to serve in the armed forces for the first five years. Recommended by the Parliamentary Standing Committee, the move is a desperate last-ditch effort by the government to make up for the worrying shortage of personnel in the Indian armed forces. Read on for more.
Concern
Indian armed forces are shockingly understaffed
The Indian defense forces are alarmingly short of people. The Army alone needs 7,000+ officers and 20,000+ men. The Indian Air Force another 150 officers and 15,000 men. The Indian Navy 150+ officers and 15,000+ men. The Indian Railways, meanwhile, employs over 2.3 crore people - 30 lakh with the Centre and 2 crore with the state governments.
Way out
Parliamentary Committee asks Defense Ministry to act on war footing
Moved by the Ministry of Defense, the decision is being considered by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), a government wing directly under the Prime Minister and is responsible for the administration/policymaking for government servants. The Parliamentary Committee has asked the Defense Ministry to treat the matter as high priority and push it with the DoPT for timely mitigation of the crisis.
Challenges
Not just men, armed forces don't have funds either
Meanwhile, the Indian armed forces don't have sufficient funds to sustain an intensive war even for 10 days, Vice Chief of Army Staff Sarath Chand told the Parliament Committee earlier this week. He said the allocated Rs. 21,338 crore was insufficient to stock arms, ammunition and spares, leave alone the pressing need of modernizing the fleet.