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 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.
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