Army implements officer cadre review to enhance efficiency

NEW DELHI: The army is carrying out an overarching review of its officer cadre aimed at striking a balance between career progression and functional requirements of the force, the first such exercise in 14 years said two people familiar with the development, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The scope of the review covers an assessment of future needs, downsizing, deficiency of officers in units, career management of non-empanelled officers, provisions related to leaving service and improving the efficiency and morale of officers, said one of the two people, both of whom requested anonymity.

An 11-member panel, headed by the military secretary, is carrying out the review and is expected to submit its report to army chief General Bipin Rawat by November-end.

The convening order for the review, issued on June 21 and seen by HT, says the aim is “to carry out holistic appraisal of the existing cadre structure, effect of un-implemented recommendations of the AV Singh committee report and recommend measures to ensure that the proposed cadre structure enhances functional efficiency, corrects structural ratio and meets legitimate career expectation of officer cadre.”

The previous cadre review was carried out in 2001 on the basis of the AV Singh committee report.

The convening order says the committee had addressed all aspects of cadre review but its report has not been implemented in its entirety even 14 years after it was approved by the Cabinet in 2004.

“The current cadre review seeks to remove existing inconsistencies and increase the army’s effectiveness,” the second officer cited above said.

Other issues that the committee will look into include achieving the correct balance between non-select and select ranks and steepness of the army’s pyramidal structure, according to the order.

“A cadre review is required to optimise the output of the army and I hope this exercise helps achieve that,” said former Northern Army commander BS Jaswal, a retired lieutenant general.

The convening order said the cadre review should not be misconstrued as an effort to upgrade posts, increase the number of select ranks at a higher scale or that it is driven by competitive pressure from other services.

“These changes should be a result of, but not the aim of the cadre review exercise,” it said.

The first preliminary presentation of the cadre review report by the panel will be made to the army chief at September-end followed by another presentation in October this year, the final report by November-end.

THE ORDER SAID THE CADRE REVIEW SHOULD NOT BE MISCONSTRUED AS AN EFFORT TO UPGRADE POSTS, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SELECT RANKS OR THAT IT IS DRIVEN BY COMPETITIVE PRESSURE FROM OTHER SERVICES