Indian Army trying to fill 24,000 vacancies

Admitting that the Army was facing a shortage of officers, a top official said on Saturday that the Army was considering several measures to fill up its 24,000 vacancies.

A number of awareness programmes to encourage more youths to join the force were being organised, Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Susheel Gupta told reporters after reviewing a Passing Out Parade at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai.

"Pay packets in the corporate sector are indeed lucrative but steps are being taken to address such issues, which will be discussed in the Sixth Pay Commission," he said. Gupta added that other measures like providing extended accommodation to the families of the personnel and faster and assured promotions up to the rank of Colonel were also in the offing.

Replying to a query on stress-related incidents in the Army, he said steps were being taken to solve the issue.

Increased duration of leave for personnel working in "difficult areas" was one of the measures, he said. Moreover, the Army was taking steps to upgrade its information and technology wing to facilitate speedy decision-making.