Recruitment in Defence Forces
Government has taken a number of measures to encourage the youth to join the defence forces, including sustained image projection, publicity campaign to create awareness among the youth on the advantages of taking up a challenging and satisfying career, participation in career fairs and exhibitions, motivational lectures in schools and colleges etc. The support of State Government authorities is also solicited in disseminating requisite information to the target population.
Further, recruitment rallies are conducted in different parts of the country to provide opportunity to youth from these areas to join the Armed Forces. Efforts are made to cover entire country including remote, border, tribal and hilly areas.
For recruitment in Army, certain relaxations in physical and educational standards are available for candidates of tribal / hilly and other backward areas. In the case of Navy and Air Force, there is no provision for relaxation in educational standards. However, relaxation in height is given to candidates from certain areas.
At present, there is no proposal under consideration of the Government to further relax the criteria for recruitment in defence forces. The Government has set up Sainik Schools in various parts of India including difficult and border areas with the primary aim of preparing boys academically, physically and mentally for entry into the National Defence Academy. As on date, 25 Sainik Schools are functioning in the various parts of the Country and out of them 05 Sainik Schools are set up in difficult and border areas. In addition, students in border and difficult areas are also encouraged to join National Cadet Corps (NCC) which strives to provide the youth of the country opportunities for all round development with a sense of commitment, dedication, self-discipline and moral values, so that they become responsible citizens of tomorrow.
This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank” and Shri Bharat Singh in Lok Sabha today.
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