Ever since the advent of economic reforms in the early 1990s, the floodgates of career opportunities and options for the youth have flung wide open. Once considered a noble profession, bearing arms for one's country got relegated to the virtual non-option amongst the youth. Globalization fuelled consumerism and materialistic considerations overtook the ideals of patriotism, gallantry and spirit of adventure, values that appealed to the youth not so long ago. The perceptible switch in the employment avenues from sellers' market to buyers' market had its impact on the manning levels in the Armed Forces. Decades long militancy and insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir and the North East that show no sign of abating, took its toll on the troops have also escalated the manning levels required and over stretched the military commitments. The upshot of the above factors is a telltale of shortages in all the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) that are almost bordering on 25% and there is a paramount need of retaining the talent that is acquired and trained at a great cost to the exchequer. It is well worth examining what the Armed Forces are doing to cope with the talent acquisition and retention blues.
Across the armed forces, the persisting shortages that are a cause for concern, mainly relate to the shortage of the officers rather than that of the other ranks. Being the largest amongst the services the Indian Army, which is 1.1 million strong, tops the list with its shortage of 11,238 officers vis-à-vis authorized cadre strength of 46,615 officers. The Navy has a shortage of 1399 officers and the Air Force is short of 1528 officers.
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