MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI GEORGE
FERNANDES)
(a) to (d): A statement is attached.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF
LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4898 FOR 24.8.2000
In order to meet the present shortage of officers
in the Army, the training period at the Indian
Military Academy, Dehradun, has been reduced for a
period of two years with effect from 01.01.2000 to
31.12.2001 as under:
Kind of Earlier Training Revised Entry into Period Training IMA Period
Direct Entry 18 Months 12 Months Ex NDA 12 Months 06 Months Ex Army 12 Months 06 Months Cadet Corps
2. Presently, there is a shortage of 12853, 1068
and 591 officers in the Army, Navy and Air Force
respectively which could possibly affect the overall
capability of the Indian Armed Forces. The shortage
of officers could be attributed to various factors
such as the extremely arduous nature of the career,
early retirement age, disparity in pay vis-Ã -vis the
private sector etc.
3. The following steps are being taken to overcome
the shortage of officers:
(a) Reduction in the training period at Indian
Military Academy, Dehradun.
(b) Increase in the training capacities of the
Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, National
Defence Academy, Pune, and Officers’ training
Academy, Chennai.
(c) Continuation of an image projection campaign
through the mass media in order to induce
recruitment of officers into the Armed
Forces.
