The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence recently recommended five-years of compulsory military service for those aspiring for gazetted jobs in the state and central governments.

The news comes after the Centre told the panel that the Defence Ministry had sent a recommendation to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to make military service of five years compulsory for those aiming for direct recruitment in the central and state government services.

The panel however, criticised the Defence Ministry, stating that “apparently, the Ministry of Defence has not taken up the matter with due seriousness with the DoPT.”

It was further stated, “The committee, while recommending five-year compulsory military service to such aspirants, has taken into account the fact that there is a perennial and alarming shortage of officers and PBOR (Personnel Below Officer Rank) in the armed forces, which needs to be corrected. The committee, once again expresses the desire that the issue of shortage of officers needs to be given priority for being addressed.”