Shortage of officers in the Indian army to the tune of 8,671 or nearly 17 per cent of the total strength of army excluding doctors and dentists is alarming. For quite some time, we are told about shortage of officers in the army. What are the reasons for this phenomenon? There was a time when seeking commission in the army was a privilege. Is the selection stringent? Yes, it is and it has to be. We cannot and should not lower our guard on the question of observing high level of selection. Maybe there is an increase in the number of vacancies of officers created with the expansion vision. In a country of our population, it should not be difficult to fill eight or nine thousand odd vacancies of officers in the army. Proper recruitment drive in officers’ cadres has to be undertaken at the level of army recruiting centres. Of course some perks and attractions have to be given to prospective candidates and prepare them to volunteer for recruitment to officer’s rank in the army could be considered by the recruiting authorities. We feel that as the Central Government proceeds with its economic programmes, the youth in the towns and villages will be attracted to find themselves recruited to a prestigious institution namely the defence forces of India. We think that incentives, appreciation and prompting of the youth should come at NCC level in schools and colleges to ensure that students begin to evince interest in joining the Army. Defence studies should be made an optional subject in school and college curriculum. This may expedite recruitment in the rank of officers in our army.
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