Top Brass Discuss Ways To Address Officer Shortages, At Army Commanders Conference

The Indian Army is taking steps to address the shortage of officers by making the entry through the Short Service Commission (SSC) more attractive, reported The New Indian Express.

This was discussed during the five day (16-20 October) Army Commanders Conference, which concluded on Friday (20 October).

The shortage of officers has been a persistent issue, with only 42,913 officers, currently serving the Army, 7,399 short of the authorised strength of 50,312 officers.

The SSC scheme allows eligible men and women to serve as officers for a minimum of 10 years, with options for extension or permanent commission.

However, SSC officers do not receive a pension or medical support under the ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme.

Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat suggested earlier that SSC officers might be offered post-retirement medical facilities, attractive severance packages, and professional courses in Management and Technology from prestigious institutions.

According to the report, ex-CDS General Bipin Rawat had stated, "among those joining through SSC we will allow between 25 to 30 percent getting Permanent Commission and the rest will get severance package and the professional degree will make them eligible for a decent job."

The Army Commanders also discussed and analyzed the Israel-Hamas conflict and the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, delivered a talk on "Leveraging Technology for National Security."

The Army Commanders' Conference, is a biannual event held in April and October each year, and serves as an institutional platform for high-level conceptual deliberations, ultimately leading to the formulation of crucial policy decisions for the Indian Army.

Key leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, CDS Lt General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, were present at the conference.