STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (c) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 226 FOR 17.8.2011 REGARDING VACANT POSTS IN DEFENCE ESTABLISHMENTS.

 

 

(a)   The number of vacancies of officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force & Coast Guard during the past three years are as under:-

       (As on 31st March)

 

2009

2010

2011

 

Army

11,386

12,510

11,137

Navy

1,475

1,457

1,689

Air Force

1,335

1,235

801

Coast Guard

333

667

659

 

The number of civilian vacancies in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, DRDO, DDP and Armed Forces Headquarters (AFHQ), during past three years are as under:-

       (As on 31st March)

 

2009

2010

2011

 

Army

47,396

70,697

80,556

Navy

2,911

3,161

5,205

Air Force

8,966

8,742

8,580

Coast Guard

277

636

685

Defence Research and Development Organisation

3,174

5,652

5,968

Department of Defence Production

67,969

68,323

70,154

Armed Forces Headquarters

2,635

2,508

2,790

 

(b) & (c):  Some of the major reasons for vacancies of officers in defence forces are accretion in force level from time to time, availability of multiple and lucrative alternate career avenues with the growth of nation’s economy, stringent selection criteria, difficult service conditions coupled with perceived high degree of risk, disrupted family life and education of children along with shortage of accommodation.

 

 

The details of steps being taken by the Government to fill up the vacancies of officers are as under:-

 

(i)

Making Short Service Commission more attractive.

(ii)

Implementation of AV Singh Committee Report for improving career prospects.

(iii)

Undertaking Married Accommodation Project for overcoming the shortage of married accommodation.

(iv)

Undertaking Image projection campaigns and activities such as motivational lectures etc. to encourage youngsters to join the defence forces.

 

So far as civilians are concerned some of reasons for vacancies are:

 

(i)

Revival of large number of vacancies out of abolished posts under Annual Direct Recruitment Plan of Department of Personnel & Training since 2009.

(ii)

Inadequate availability of eligible candidates in recruitment process.

(iii)

Lack of eligible candidates in the feeder grades.

(iv)

Time taken in amending Recruitment Rules after implementation of 6th Central Pay Commission.

(v)

Time taken in recruitment process.

(vi)

Accretion of vacancies recently.

(vii)

Time taken in reviewing below-benchmark grading in Annual Confidential Report (ACR)/Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) as per guidelines of Department of Personnel & Training.

 

Creation & filling up of vacancies is a continuous and ongoing process and steps are constantly taken to expedite the recruitment/

promotion processes.