(a) whether the Government is considering to increase the retirement age of Defence Service Personnel particularly of those below the rank of officers;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether this is for both the combat and the non-combat personnel and if so, the details thereof and its likely impact on the fitness level of the Army personnel;
(d) whether there has been an actual decrease in the number of applicants in the Indian Army especially at the officers level; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the action intended to improve the recruitment in Armed Forces?