Recruitment in the Army from LWE Districts

The total number of Army personnel (excluding Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps and Military Nursing Service) in different wings of Army, is as under:-

Officers : 40,095 (as on 1.1.2015)

Other Ranks : 11,47,549 (as on 1.4.2015)

State / UT wise details of the number of Army personnel are not maintained.

In Army, officers are recruited on all India basis through open competitive examination. Recruitment in Other Ranks in Army is made through Open Rally System. Women are inducted only as Short Service Commissioned Officers in specified Branches in Indian Army.

Recruitment of youth including from tribal areas is an ongoing process. Army has initiated several steps with a view to increase intake in the Other Ranks from the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected states which include:

Requesting the State Governments to encourage, train and motivate candidates to join Army;

Making efforts to ensure maximum participation of candidates from LWE affected areas in Army Recruitment Rallies; and

Giving motivational lectures by Army personnel to join Army in remote areas of LWE affected States etc.

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Signing of Defence Deals

Capital procurement of defence equipment is made from various indigenous as well as foreign sources and contracts are signed after obtaining approval of Competent Financial Authority in accordance with the provisions of Defence Procurement Procedure-2013.

During 2014-15, 18 contracts have been signed between May 2014 and February 2015 with foreign vendors including those from USA, Russia, Israel, Germany, France and UK for procurement of items such as Missiles, Rockets and Simulators. Contracts are executed as per terms and conditions incorporated therein. The 18 contracts were signed by designated officers as per provisions of DPP 2013 which do not require the presence of Defence Minister at the signing.

Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) provides for direct dealing with the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) or Authorised Vendors or Government Sponsored Export Agencies (applicable in case of countries where domestic laws do not permit direct export by OEM). It also provides that vendor is required to give full details of any agents / technical consultants / authorised vendors that may have been appointed by them for marketing of this equipment in India. These details should include the scope of work and responsibilities that have been entrusted with the said party in India.

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Disparity in Applicability of Army Act on MNS

Military Nursing Service is a part of Armed Forces Medical Services as an auxiliary service which is governed by Military Nursing Service Rules, 1944 framed under (The Indian) Military Nursing Service Ordinance, 1943. Therefore, all the provisions of the Army Act are not applicable to MNS.

There is disparity in applicability of the Army Act between the officers of MNS and those of regular Army as these are two separate cadres. The disparity in applicability of the Army Act between officers of the above mentioned two different cadres stems from the difference in legal provisions governing them. However, it is ensured that all rules and regulations applicable to MNS are adhered to at all times.

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Injury of Indian Soldiers During Military Exercise in the UK

Exercise Ajeya Warrior, a bilateral biennial Army Exercise between Indian Army and British Army was conducted in Salisbury Plains, UK from 8-28th June, 2015. At 1800 hours on 17th June, 2015, there was a road accident (collision between the vehicles) in the Salisbury Plains Training Area which resulted in injuries to 21 Indian and 02 British soldiers. All soldiers were in British Army vehicles and preliminary inquiries have revealed that the accident was caused due to sudden braking by one of the vehicles in the convoy. While 19 Indian soldiers were discharged after first aid, 02 soldiers (01 Captain and 01 Havildar) were injured severely. The injured soldiers were treated in Salisbury hospital and are recovering well. They have been shifted to the British Army Rehabilitation Centre at Hedley Court. The Medical experts have estimated a time period of approximately three months for the injured soldiers to be shifted back to India. Preventive measures against accidents are being emphasized to all Indian Army contingents participating in Exercise in India and abroad.

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Production of Aircraft by Tata-Airbus Consortium

A proposal to procure 56 transport aircraft as replacement for the ageing fleet of Avro aircraft through ‘Buy & Make’ route was accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). Out of these, 40 aircraft will be manufactured in India by the Indian Production Agency (IPA) chosen by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) from the private sector. The Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued to eight global transport aircraft manufacturers on 8th May, 2013. Only a single bid was received in response to the RFP. The DAC constituted an Independent Committee of Experts to look into various issues related to single vendor situation. The report of the Committee was placed before the DAC. After consideration of the report of the Committee and related aspects, DAC, the competent authority under Defence Procurement Procedure, accorded approval to proceed with the case with the single bid received from M/s Airbus Defence and Space S.A.

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Collaboration with USA for Building Aircraft Carriers

However, a Joint Working Group has been formed under the auspices of US-India Defence Trade and Technology Initiative framework for possible co-operation in the field of aircraft carrier technologies in the future.

Aircraft Carriers are for Navy. The above mentioned technological collaboration will not aid the Indian Air Force.

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