*NEW DELHI – *
In a major move, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has approved the firstbatch of reforms in the Army which include relocation of 229 officers fromthe Army headquarters, creation of a new post of deputy chief for militaryoperations and strategic planning, and setting up new wings for vigilanceand human rights issues, official sources said on Thursday, PTI hasreported.
Finalised after 12 independent studies, the transformative reforms in theIndian Army are being implemented to make the 1.3 million-strong forceleaner and meaner, as well as to enhance its combat capabilities.
The defence minister has approved the first batch of long-pending reformmeasures in the army, the sources said.
They said the number of officers being moved out is 20 per cent of thetotal officers in the army headquarters in the national capital, and theybe deployed in forward locations along the borders with China and Pakistan.
They said the post of Deputy Chief of the Army Staff Strategy DCOAS isbeing created to deal with military operations, military intelligence,strategic planning and operational logistics.Promoted: In Stores
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At present, the DG (Military Operations) and the DG (Military Intelligence)report to the Army Chief.
The defence minister also approved creation of a new information warfarewing in keeping the needs of the future battlefield, hybrid warfare andsocial media reality, the sources said.Advertisement
They said the government has approved merging of the separate verticals ofthe DCOAS (planning and strategy) and the Master General Ordnance (MGO)into one office of the DCOAS (Capability Development and Sustenance).
“Towards the Army’s capability based modernisation needs, this wouldsynergise and coalesce all revenue and capital spending under oneorganisation and effectively prioritise competing requirements with anoperational focus to get better value for funds allocated by thegovernment,” said a senior army official.Advertisement
Sources said the government has also approved creation of two new branchesto deal with vigilance and human rights issues, reflecting the Army”scommitment to probity and transparency. Both the branches will be headed byMajor General rank officers.
The new ADG, Vigilance will function directly under the Chief of Army Staffand the new ADG Human Rights will function under the VCOAS. the ADG(Vigilance) will also have a new Vigilance Investigation Unit under him,the sources said.Advertisement
The reform initiatives were finalised by top commanders of the Army inOctober last year to usher in transformative reforms in the force.
The reforms will also include restructuring the Army”s officer cadre,bringing down age of key commands, arresting rising revenue expenditure and”right-sizing” the force.
Sources said the reform measures will be implemented with a sense ofurgency.
The Army headquarters had instituted four studies with an overall aim toenhance the operational and functional efficiency of the force, optimisebudget expenditure, facilitate modernisation and address aspirations.
The first study on “re-organisation and right-sizing of the Indian Army”was focused on the operational structures to make the force efficient andfuture-ready by taking into account the operational situation on westernand northern borders, the spokesperson said.
The second study was on re-organisation of the Army headquarters with anaim to bring in “integration and preclude the redundancies”.
The third study was on “cadre review of officers” and its focus was torecommend how to carry out reorganisation and restructuring to meet theaspirations of the officers’ cadre.
The fourth study on “review of terms of engagement of rank and file” wasaimed at harnessing the higher life expectancy and ensuring younger profileof key commands and motivation of the personnel.