Army wants 50% increase in officers

NEW DELHI: With the 1.13-million Army now finally going in for a major "transformation" and modernization drive to counter China and Pakistan, it is looking to increase its officer cadre by as much as 50% to man that drive.

Top defence ministry sources said the Army has projected that it will need 16,222 more officers by 2020 to meet the demands of modernization slated for the 12th Plan period (2012-2017) and beyond.

The Army, Navy and IAF continue to grapple with a severe shortage of officers, failing as they are to attract enough youngsters with OLQs (officer-like qualities) despite substantial salary raises after the 6th Pay Commission.
The Army, the world's second largest after the Chinese People's Liberation Army, is short of around 12,500 officers against its "sanctioned strength" of 47,864.