Army restructuring put ‘on hold’

Ajay Banerjee  

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 17

The Army’s much-awaited restructuring of headquarters has been ‘put on hold’ following ‘incomplete’ sanction to carry out the process that would entail creation of separate wings to deal with internal vigilance and human rights policies, merger of important directorates and slashing officer strength in Delhi.

Called the Government Sanction Letter (GSL), the first two parts were issued on August 21.  The remaining parts, that were to actually carry out the process and lay down terms for merger and creation of posts, have been held back, say sources. 

It has been decided that restructuring in totality will commence only after government sanction for full proposals, which entail restructuring at the top and re-distribution of work. This could require sanction from the Cabinet Committee on Security, indicate the sources. The officers, who are to be weaned off the headquarters, were to be sent to field formations. At present, there are an estimated 950 to 1,000 officers posted at the headquarters in Delhi. Among the pending parts of the GSL are instructions on merger of directorates. 

This was to include merger of two weapons and systems procurement agencies and creation of post of Deputy Chief for coordination with the military Intelligence, operations and logistics wings.

At present, the DG (Military Operations) and the DG (Military Intelligence) report to the Army Chief or Vice-Chief. Also, the restructuring was to merge the Master General Ordnance (MGO), currently under the Vice-Chief, and the DG (Weapons and Equipment) under a single vertical with the Deputy Chief, 

Planning and Strategy, that was to be renamed Capability Development.

Also expected is the creation of a consolidated information warfare wing that will subsume two existing wings under the DGMI and the DGMO. The 

DG (Military Training) are to be merged with the Shimla-based Army Training Command.

The restructuring was ordered in June 2018 year following a “convening order” for cadre restructuring by the Army Vice-Chief.