TOUR OF DUTY

In news-

The Indian Army has proposed to allow common citizens to join its ranks as officers and soldiers for a three-year short service billed as 'Tour of Duty'. 

This proposal for:-

1)- It believes that the proposal would be of immense financial benefit to the Army due to reduction in pay and gratuity payouts. If the proposal is approved, it will be voluntary in nature and there will be no dilution in the selection criteria.

2)- The proposal is a shift from the concept of permanent service in the armed forces towards “internship” or temporary experience for three years. 

3)- “This proposal taps into the feeling of the youth to experience military life for a temporary duration,” said the draft. 

Source-Deccan Chronicle

The draft said the defence budget has grown by 68 per cent in the past five years. While the salary outgo of the armed forces has grown by 75 per cent, pensions have grown by a whopping 146 per cent.

The cumulative cost of pre-commission training, pay/allowances, gratuity, severance package, leave encashment, and other costs is nearly Rs 5.12 crore on an officer if he/she is released after 10 years, and Rs 6.83 crore if released after 14 years,” it said.

A similar cost for those released after three years of Tour on Duty (ToD) would be around Rs 85 lakh.

“Thus saving for only 1000 jawans could be Rs 11,000 crore, which could then be utilized for the much-needed modernization of the Indian armed forces,” it said.

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