Army to move 57,000 troops, close farms in major overhaul
First batch of 65 recommendations by special panel accepted, defence minister says
In a major reform for the Indian Army, the government has accepted the first batch of 65 recommendations of the committee headed by Lt. Gen D.B. Shekatkar (retd.), which will result in redeployment of 57,000 personnel for roles to increase the “tooth to tail” ratio.
Tooth to tail ratio is a military term that refers to the amount of military personnel it takes to supply and support (tail) each combat soldier (tooth).
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who also holds the Defence portfolio, announced that the first batch 65 measures as per the committee report will be implemented by the year end.
These include optimisation of signals establishments to include Radio Monitoring Companies, Corps Air Support Signal Regiments, Air Formation Signal Regiments, Composite Signal Regiments and merger of Corps Operating and Engineering Signal Regiments. It will also include closure of all military farms and army postal establishments in peace locations.
Redeployments
Jaitley said the committee had given about 99 recommendations and the government, in consultation with the army, had been going through these recommendations. “And the first batch of 65 recommendations has been accepted by the government yesterday (on Tuesday).”
“This will lead to redeployment of 57,000 officers, JCOs and ORs for various other functions where their requirement in Army is. It is a far-reaching change.
“The mandate of this committee was to make recommendations for enhancing combat capability and rebalancing of defence expenditure of the armed forces ... to increase the teeth to tail ratio,” he said.