Lok Sabha Question No. 4484 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-12
Subject: Strength of Defence Forces
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: RADHESHYAM BISWAS, RAVNEET SINGH, RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK

## OGVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4484

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  AUGUST, 2016

## STRENGTH OF DEFENCE FORCES

4484.  SHRI  RADHESHYAM BISWAS:

SHRI RAVNEET SINGH:

DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK':

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

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- (a) whether the Government has adequate strength of officers and soldiers in all three wings of defence forces, force-wise Army, Navy and Air Force;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the  total  number  of  vacant  posts  of  officers  including  the  technical  and  nontechnical posts in all the three wings of defence forces;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the strength of officers and soldiers in all three wings; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                      (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

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(a) to (e): A statement is attached.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4484 FOR ANSWER ON 12.8.2016

(a)  to  (c):      The  details  of  authorised  strength  and  held  strength  of  officers  and  soldiers in  all three Wings of Defence Forces are as under:-

## Officers :

| Army (as on 01.01.2016)   | Army (as on 01.01.2016)   | Army (as on 01.01.2016)   | Navy (as on 31.05.2016)   | Navy (as on 31.05.2016)   | Navy (as on 31.05.2016)   | Air Force (as on 01.08.2016)   | Air Force (as on 01.08.2016)   | Air Force (as on 01.08.2016)   |
|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Authorised strength       | Held strength             | Shortage                  | Authorised strength       | Held strength             | Shortage                  | Authorised strength            | Held strength                  | Shortage                       |
| 49833                     | 41162                     | 8671                      | 11384                     | 9866                      | 1518                      | 12244                          | 12215                          | 29                             |

## Soldiers :

| Army (as on 01.01.2016)   | Army (as on 01.01.2016)   | Army (as on 01.01.2016)   | Navy (as on 31.05.2016)   | Navy (as on 31.05.2016)   | Navy (as on 31.05.2016)   | Air Force (as on 01.08.2016)   | Air Force (as on 01.08.2016)   | Air Force (as on 01.08.2016)   |
|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Authorised strength       | Held strength             | Shortage                  | Authorised strength       | Held strength             | Shortage                  | Authorised strength            | Held strength                  | Shortage                       |
| 1202257                   | 1159093                   | 43164*                    | 67639                     | 57999                     | 9640                      | 138596                         | 128216                         | 10380**                        |

* Presently 87322 recruits are under training against this deficiency.
- ** Presently 8792 trainees are under  training against this deficiency.

Some  of  the  major  reasons  for  shortage  in  Armed  Forces  include  increase  in authorized strength due  to new accretions of posts from time  to time, availability  of other attractive career avenues, stringent selection criteria coupled with perceived  high degree of risk.

(d) & (e): Government has taken a number of measures to reduce the shortages. These include sustained image projection, participation in career fairs and exhibitions and publicity campaign to create awareness among the youth on the advantages of taking up a challenging and  satisfying  career.  Further,  Government  has  taken  various  steps  to  make  armed  forces' jobs  attractive.  These  include  implementation  of  recommendations  of  the  Central  Pay Commissions  with  improved  pay  structure,  additional  family  accommodation  through Married  Accommodation  Project  (MAP)  and  improvement  in  promotion  prospects  in  the Armed Forces.

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