Lok Sabha Question No. 1752 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-25
Subject: Recruitment in Defence Forces
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK, BHARAT SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1752

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 TH  NOVEMBER, 2016

## RECRUITMENT  IN  DEFENCE  FORCES

1752.  DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK': SHRI BHARAT SINGH:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  any  scheme  is  under  consideration  of  the  Government  for  encouraging youth belonging  to difficult  and border  areas  including Himalayan  mountain  region  to join defence forces;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the matter of some relaxation in the criteria for recruitment for youth of such areas is under consideration of the Government and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to popularise military education in schools and colleges in these areas?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

र  ा रा य मं ी

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

(a) to (d): A Statement is attached.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1752 FOR ANSWER ON 25.11.2016

(a) & (b): Government has taken a number of measures to encourage the youth  to  join  the  defence  forces,  including  sustained  image  projection, publicity campaign to create awareness among the youth on the advantages of taking up a challenging and satisfying career, participation in  career  fairs  and  exhibitions,  motivational  lectures  in  schools  and colleges etc.  The support of State Government authorities is also solicited in disseminating requisite information to the target population. Further,  recruitment  rallies  are  conducted  in  different  parts  of  the country to provide opportunity to youth from these areas to join the Armed Forces.  Efforts are made to cover entire country including remote, border, tribal and hilly areas. (c) For recruitment in Army, certain relaxations in physical and educational standards are available for candidates of tribal / hilly and other backward areas.  In the case of Navy and Air Force, there is no provision for  relaxation  in  educational  standards.    However,  relaxation  in  height  is given to candidates from certain areas. At present, there is no proposal under consideration of the Government to further relax the criteria for recruitment in defence forces. (d) The Government has set up Sainik Schools in various parts of India including difficult and border areas with the primary aim of preparing boys academically, physically and mentally for entry into the National Defence Academy.   As  on  date,  25  Sainik  Schools  are  functioning  in  the  various parts  of  the  Country  and  out  of  them  05  Sainik  Schools  are  set  up  in difficult  and  border  areas.    In  addition,  students  in  border  and  difficult areas  are  also  encouraged  to  join  National  Cadet  Corps  (NCC)  which strives  to  provide  the  youth  of  the  country  opportunities  for  all  round development  with  a sense  of  commitment,  dedication, self-discipline  and moral values, so that they become responsible citizens of tomorrow.

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