In News
- The three-year short service or ‘Tour of Duty’ for youth in the armed forces is likely to be announced soon.
What is a Tour of Duty?
- Meaning: It means hiring a youth in the armed forces for a short span of 3-5 years.
- The idea of hiring jawans on a three-year contract was first floated in 2020.
- The idea was the brainchild of late Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat.
- The Indian Army will be the first of the three armed forces to recruit some soldiers for a fixed period of three years.
- Around 25% of them would serve in the Army for three years and 25% troops would serve for five years.
- The remaining 50% would continue to serve in the Army for the full term till they reach their retirement age.
- Proposal states that 50% of soldiers released at the end of three and five years will be included in the National Pension Scheme.
- Such soldiers will be given certain medical benefits, applicable to Armed Forces veterans, for a fixed period.
Background
- It started during World War II when the British realized that they needed far more officers than those who could be commissioned from either Sandhurst or the JSW (Joint Services Wing).
- These officers came on a contract for five-10 years and could be later converted to a permanent commission.
- This was done till the end of World War II.
- In 1962 during the Indo-China War, the Emergency Commission was reopened and based on the increasing requirement of the officers, Officers Training School (OTS) in Chennai was opened, which granted short-service commissions to five-10 years.
Models for recruitment
- The Army is considering two different models for recruitment in the future:
- One under which youth can voluntarily serve in the Army for a temporary period of three years, and
- The other where they are recruited by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), trained and posted in the Army for about seven years, before being transferred back.
- The first model, of three years’ service, is called ‘Tour of Duty’, while the other is called ‘Inverse Induction’.
- Currently, the only option apart from regular permanent commission into the armed forces is the short service commission, in which officers are recruited for a period of 14 years.
Significance of this move
- Reduction in defence pensions: It is a move towards reducing the burgeoning pension bill as well as revenue expenditure in terms of salaries and other costs.
- The cost of a jawan, with his training and other expenses, would come down to Rs 80-85 lakh, which would help in releasing funds for military modernisation.
- Plugging shortages: The defence establishment is hoping that the Tour of Duty scheme will help in resolving the issue of lack of manpower in the Indian Army.
- This is significant in the current climate where the nation is facing a serious threat from China as well as Pakistan at the borders.
- Attractive and prime recruit: A young man who would retire as a ToD jawan would be a very attractive and prime recruit for the government sector and corporates.
- Technology Up gradation: Students from prestigious institutes like IITs who are highly technical will be attracted to the Army for a short period to help them expand the technology in the Army.
- It is an opportunity for India’s youth: to experience military life without having to join the armed forces on a long-term basis.
Source: TOI
