Ministry of Defence has mooted a proposal for introducing Junior Commission Officers (JCOs) in the Indian Army. Presently most of Group ‘A’ Central Civil Services as well as All India Services have feeder/ support services in the form of Group B cadres. It has been found functionally essential that Direct Entry JCOs cadre is introduced in the Indian Army as feeder/ support cadre for Commissioned Officers Cadre. DE JCOs Cadre will facilitate making up of existing deficiency of Officers up to the rank of Lt Colonel, thereby providing a permanent solution to the problem of shortage of officers in the Indian Army. It will also help resolve many of the HR issues resulting from the pyramidal structure.
About 25-30% of Officers vacancies at entry-level are proposed to be apportioned for DE JCOs Cadre, as per details given below:-
The procedure for selection of DE JCOs will be as under:
The DE JCOs are recommended to undergo 1.5 years of Pre-Commissioning training. With the reduction in Regular Officers due to the introduction of DE JCOs and increase of SSCO entry, proportionate infrastructure in NDA and IMA will fall vacant. Same is proposed to be utilized for Pre-Commissioning Training of DE JCOs.
DE JCOs cadre is recommended to have time scale promotion from Nb Subedar to Lt Colonel’s rank in 21 years. Nb Subedar to be promoted to Subedar in 6 years and Captain in 12 years, Major in 15 years and Lt Colonel in 21 years. Maximum DE JCOs will retire as Lt Colonel. A few vacancies will also be earmarked for this cadre for selection grade Colonel. Retirement age for DE JCOs entry will be 54 years.
Introduction of DE JCOs entry in Indian Army will have the following implications:-
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