More 'transparent' promotion policy for Army in the works

NEW DELHI: With heartburn over promotion and litigation a source of concern for the Army, a committee has been set up to recommend measures to make the promotion policy "more objective, transparent and fair". The panel will submit its report to the defence ministry soon.

Restricted avenues at the senior level has led to a sense of stagnation and the government has sought to promote options like the short service commission (SSC) to reduce pension burdens and also keep the Army leaner and manned by competent officers.

Faced with mounting complaints about the promotion policy , especially the "quantification-based'' selection system as well as the existing practice to bifurcate promotion of Brigadiers and higher ranks into "command" and "staff " streams, the government had appointed the committee in mid-January to review the entire system.