New Delhi: The retiring age of defence services personnel, particularly below the rank of officers should be raised to 58, from the current 37-38, to optimise their services and to cut down on the increasing defence pension, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat said Tuesday.
The allocation for defence pension has shot up by a significant 13.6 per cent to Rs 1.33 lakh crore in the Union Budget 2020-21. Pensions constitute 28 per cent of the overall expenditure of the defence ministry.
In an interaction with a group of journalists, Rawat said Army officers usually retire between the age of 54-58 and are secure and well taken care of. But those below the officers’ rank are sent home at the age of 37-38 after they are recruited at the tender age of 18-19, the CDS said.
Rawat said after they retire at a young age, they are forced to look for a job, which may not be dignified for them, despite the pension. “The ratio should be reversed. Why make them go through that? Instead their (retirement) age should be increased to 58,” he said.
“Those who have served in difficult areas like Ladakh in their 40s may not have to do so in their later part of their service when they are retiring,” he said.
Rawat said he is in talks with the services over the feasibility of the move.
Even as the Army chief, Rawat had supported the move of increasing the retirement age of the Army jawans. He said even the Army Medical Corps (medical wing of the military) personnel should serve until the age of 58.
Talking about the other ways to reduce cost of running the military, Rawat said: “TAisation of defence forces is another way forward.”
TA refers to the Territorial Army, which is the second line of defence after the regular Indian Army.
Also read: Pakistan should be blacklisted by FATF, isolated diplomatically: CDS Gen Bipin Rawat
‘Management of budget more important’
On the Defence budget, the CDS said that more than the amount in the Budget, the management of the budget is more important.
“It should not be like you buy whatever is available… you have to be serious about what you really want and decide on your priorities,” he said.
The capital budget allocation for the armed forces for FY 2020-21 has seen a marginal increase of just 3 per cent, or Rs 3,400 crore.
Rawat said that alternate ways of raising funds for defence budget and modernisation should be explored.
The CDS further said that major acquisitions should depend on servicing facilities available and by keeping the maintenance cycle in mind. He was referring to the purchase of 114 fighter aircraft, a tender for which is underway, at one go.
Talking about other big-ticket military acquisitions, such as the third aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy, Rawat said it will depend on how the economy progresses and keeping in view the requirements of the other services. The Navy has been battling for a third indigenous aircraft carrier since long.
Speaking on stocking up of ammunition for the Indian Army, the CDS said: “You can keep stock of ammunition but does it have that amount of shelf life?” he asked. He then added that indigenous manufacturing of ammunition is the need of the hour.
The Army has bought ammunition worth over Rs 30,000 crore over the last three years to slowly fill a critical firepower shortage that was highlighted in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri sector in 2016.
Also read: CDS General Bipin Rawat gets cracking, Air Defence Command first priority
Or sarvis badna chahiye sir husband 26 year t entazar kiya promotion nahi aya 15 days fark me unko or job karne ka jarurat h bachche ka padai keliye . Jco nahi bana magar job to rehaga 45 years me bahar jake kya karge sir
Very bad thinking for jawans….behave like slave
. A Jawan is defined as ATM of his family and donkey for officers. There is no personnel life .one day he died without knowing why he was born for this life.
If u want change in defence budget then make it equal officers and jawans MSP
Still in defence environment like British era .
Britishers like officers
Indians like jawans
Absolutely right thinking sir……I am agree with you…..
Opinion of CDS Rawat does not appear justified as old age fighters will not suit, at present retired armed force personal get nine percent reservation in civil services recruitment. Best solution is that all sections of society should spare their 10% of quota for their own categories, this means a category who is getting 27% reservation, should spare
2.7% for their castes. In this way reservation quota in civil services will increase from 9%
to approximately 18% , there should not be
any objection as category wise quota is not being disturbed, simply every category will
give preference to their own category of army
personal who have served nation on front and have enhanced the prestige of their
categories.
This decision will definitely weakening the forces and not going to make much cutdowns in expenditure.
After 16-20 years of service most of soldiers become JCOs or other would be entitled for JCOs’ similar payment and other facilities. This pay is almost equalant to the together pay of newly recruited soildier and pension given to soldier who retiring after 15-17 years.
This decision will rather make the Armed forces which running by aged men. As percentage of aged men increases the whole load will fall on shoulder of decreased number of younger men. Even being younger, job in military is much difficult then how the jobs get it done by aged or low medical category people. To reduce defence expenditure of defense there are many other ways no need of making soldiers’ life horrible and weakening the security of nation.
So bad, 15 year is enough. Combat life is Very difficult
Continuing defence service after initial engagement should be left to the wish of individual soldier. It should not be forced on any one. It is a service not a carrer. Every soldier has family and he has the right to spent considerable portion of his life with them.
Why not 75? Imagine 75 years old going to first line defence for war or to fight with militants… amazing .. thank you rawat saab
Amy kii age me be changing honii cheiya phir sir jbh apne amry kii job 58 age thk krdii to 17/5 se 25 thk honii cheiya
Yes, I am agreed with our CDS Gen Bipin Rawat. The service of a Jawan and JCO should be extended upto 58 years of age. Thanjs
YOU MUST JOIN ARMY TO UNDERSTAND THE PRESSURE..
Our Generations have served in army . It is very much painful and difficult for a jawans to look for odd jobs of security guard in banks or in schools. They are not hired at the age of 45-50 .They have responsibility of family as at this age their son and daughter are going to college and they require a huge amount of money for college fees. funds or pension money don’t cover the expenses .So don’t just blabber stuff if you don’t understand .
All We thinking about army why we don’t think about ta person..who equally serve ..gave equally Duty .. they fought with militant everyday then why Indian govt don’t think about those …ta Mai AP fund kyon nai kat ta ..kyon …
Army person should give life time imprisonment
Tell me one thing how will you fought a battle with aged soldiers. To win any battle you need young blood . What about those regiments who are permanently deployed in high altitude areas like Ladakh Scouts. There is huge difference between soldiers and officers . Officer have opportunity to bring their families everywhere but it’s not possible in a soldiers case.
Take a look on it pls.
Good move by CDS General Rawat , soldiers who want to serve their mother land should be given an opportunity to serve till 58 year and fulfill their domestic responsibility. Soldiers who want to quit after initial engagement can be allowed to do so.
Wanting to live in their comfort zone is the most common human trait. . Sadly, Indian Army is loudly expressing its want. Who would not?
15 yr service is good time to retirement.
58Yr tak to fouj me rhega to life kab kya karega
Very hard job it’s not possible to 58 yr
Zindagi bhar fauz me rahega aur ghar me bhi fauz ki hi baat karega, civil life ke bare me pata hi nahi chalega, JCO aur OR ko duty maaf kon karega upar se taane aur denge ki free me tankha chahiye kaam to karna padega. Kya 45 saal se upar jawan Kitna der kaam kar sakta hai lekin fauz me woh 24 ghante active rahna padega rest naam ki chiz use milegi nahi. Stress aur strain badega.
Ye aacha pahal hai es se jawano ko dusara job karna nahi parega. Aur govt par pension ka load kam hoga.
Army join karo 15 sal service karo phirkarta hai is batana 58 sal sahi hai Jo army mey job nahi
Gen rawat aap army se ho ya politicians
2 .aapko pata h army ke jawan kaise rahte hai
3 aap officer ho isliye aapke liye achha h aap jaise ko matlab army officers ko 100 sal bhi kara lo koi dikkat h
3 jawano ko behtar subidha ke nam pe sirf dhokha milta h aur aapse behtar koi nahi jan sakta
4 allounc me itna deference kyo h kabhi bat kiya iske bare me
5 Failsety me itna deference kyo h bat kiye iske bare me
6 aur to aur jawano ke wife ke sath bhi bhed bhao hota h ye officers ki wife h red chair ye jawaono ki wife hai normal kyo sir naukri hum kr rahe h aapki ya un jawano ki wife
7 agar aap Poltition ban hi gye ho ek bat bat batao jab koi vidhayak ek bar election jeet jata h to use lifetime pension kyo milta h
8 kisi bhi vidhayak ke pe ke upar income tax kyo nahi lagta
Sir ab ye mat bolna ye mere releted nahi mai ke soldier ka beta hu mujhe intejar h mere papa mere pas ek time ke bad aayenge
This is the best.Need not to search another job after the retirement.I have served20years in Indian Air Force.Now I am a teacher in jawahar navodaya vidyalaya Chhindwara Madya Pradesh.I pay my heartiest congratulations to Gen RAWAT SIR.
Chindwara is near of Afs Amla
Acha to vapas join kar le…….apna to settle ho Gaya hai..
15Year is big time
Life time
Indian army retires personnel too early. That becomes a burden on pension funds.
Military mei jawan ka retirement 15 saal baad hi sahi hai. 58 saal tak galat hai
Veay very good
You are true as on your part but the other phase is that officers are making miserable life in defence forces and due to that personnel are getting retirement at the early age.
Just because the govt doesn’t have money to spend should not dictate issues of national security…this looks like a misquoted response…Gen Rawat is a highly intelligent soldier and he is aware of consequences of such steps…
We may be saddled with aged soldiers to fight the battles then
Army medical corps, not core. Though corps is pronounced as “core” you still need to write it right
Gd mrng sir,
This decision is most effectiveble for the post of an article on the way of life.
What about cascading effects on youthfulness of Armed Forces, rising unemployment in younger generation ?
It is a catch 22 situation.
It is good point raised by CDS to increase the retirement age of Army personnel upto 58 years. It will definitely curb the financial expenditure. Let us see if a trained personnel retired at the age of 37 or 38 the vacancy created and a new person is employed, trained to fill the vacancy, now government has to afford the expenditure in double. First to pay the pension of the retiree and salary for the newly employed ! Also the newly employed will take time to reach the required standards of Army with various courses, costing the Exchequer again and lowering the defence allocations. Hope if, implemented the recommendations of CDS, then win -win situation for both(employer and the employee. Thankyou
Sir 15sal he kafi h.bhut typical job h army ki.10sal bad ye sochne Lagta h kab wapsi kyu family me.young age me family and social se door ho jata h army Jawan.
Why 58?? Why not 60 or 65??
Paramilitary service 58 year hona zaruri.