Officials in the Defence Ministry have revealed that the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy are facing a significant shortage of officers, with the total number surpassing 11,000. The Army bears the brunt of this shortfall, accounting for more than half of the vacant positions.
The specific ranks experiencing scarcity are Majors and Captains, while the Indian Air Force is grappling with shortages in important positions such as Squadron Leaders and Flight Lieutenants. Similarly, the Indian Navy also faces a shortage of officers, including those of the Lieutenant Commander rank.
The Ministry of Defence attributes these vacancies to the low recruitment of officers during the Covid-19 pandemic. They explain that the scarcity of 11,266 officers, including those of Major and Captain ranks and equivalent positions, can be attributed to the reduced recruitment efforts during the pandemic period. This has resulted in a notable dearth of personnel in the Indian Air Force and the Navy as well.
In a written communication to Parliament, the Ministry of Defence informed that the Indian Army alone has more than 6,800 vacant officer positions. The Army is specifically short of 2,094 officers at the Major level and 4,734 officers at the Captain level. Similarly, the Indian Air Force is facing a shortfall of 881 Squadron Leaders and 940 Flight Lieutenants.
Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt, disclosed that the Navy is experiencing a shortage of 2,617 officers, encompassing the ranks of Lieutenant Commander and below. He attributed this scarcity to the pandemic’s influence on officer appointments in the Air Force, Navy, and Army.
Additionally, the Ministry of Defence pointed out that the inadequate recruitment in auxiliary cadres, such as the ‘Short Service Commission’ (SSC), has also contributed to the shortfall of officers across the forces.
