(a) whether the Government proposes to raise new regiments including a Tribal regiment
in the Indian Army;
(b) if so, whether this move will create more employment opportunities for the tribals;
(c) whether relaxation in respect of age, physical standard and education would be made
application to the tribals in order to recruit more and more of them; and
(d) if so, the manner in which the Government will implement tribal recruitment in the
army?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI A.K. ANTONY)
(a) & (b): The policy of the Government is not to raise any new regiment on the basis of
a particular class, creed, community, religion or region, but to have an Army in which all
Indians have representation.
(c) Relaxation is already available to the candidates from Scheduled Tribes in respect of
Physical and Educational criteria.
(d) Recruitment rallies are carried out all over the country including tribal areas to
give ample opportunity for recruitment to tribal candidates.