Proposal to cut Army Personnel in NCC by 75 percent

New Delhi: National Cadet Corps (NCC) may soon see a reduction of 75 percent in the strength of Army personnel deputed to the Corps. A proposal to cut down Army deputation to NCC by 75 perhas been moved.

The proposal says that the deficiency thus created would be made by hiring ex-servicemen on contract.

In a letter dispatched to all NCC directorates on May 27 this year, the NCC Directorate General in New Delhi has sought comments on the move.

The directorates across the country have been asked to give their response to the proposed reduction of the instructional staff from the Army so that the challenges and problems which can arise can be discussed and understood.

The directorates have also been asked to recommend what percentage of reduction may be permissible and can be done without compromising the functional efficiency of a NCC unit or sub-unit.

There has been a concerted effort at the top level of the government to reduce the military in order to control the rising pension budget and to have more cash to spend on capital budgets and technology acquisitions. The proposed Tour of Duty scheme of recruitment, which envisages hiring soldiers on contract for four years and retaining only a fraction of them for pensionable service, is also a step in that direction.

However, senior retired military officers have expressed their objection to the new method of recruitment and recommended that it be a test-bed before lock, stock and barrel is implemented.

(Defence Watch– India's Defence Business News centre that places the spotlight on Defence Manufacturing, Defence Technology, Strategy and Military affairs is on Twitter. Follow us here and stay updated.)