Indian Army once bitten twice shy after former Chief’s age controversy

Stung by the ugly age controversy of its former Chief General VK Singh the Indian Army has started issued fresh guidelines to avoid such row over the date of birth of their future officers.

In its latest recruitment advertisement the Indian Army has been running a caveat – the age mentioned in the form is final, no request for changes will be entertained.

The caveat was part of the Indian Army’s latest recruitment advertisement under the Technical Entry Scheme for Permanent Commission. While inviting the applications from the “unmarried male candidates” who have passed their 10+2 examination, the advertisement issued by the Army Recruitment Cell had conditions applied.

“Candidate should note only the date of birth as recorded in the Matriculation/Higher Secondary Examination Certificate or an equivalent certificate on the date of submission of applications will be accepted and no subsequent request for its chance will be considered or granted,” the advertisement said categorically. The advertisement had appeared in national newspapers on Saturday.

Last year, the 1.1 million-strong Indian Army was in the eye of storm over the confusion over the date of birth of its Chief – General VK Singh said his date of birth was May 10, 1951 whereas the Ministry of Defence maintained it was May 10, 1950 as mentioned in the Chief’s form filled for National Defence Academy (NDA) and later to Indian Military Academy (IMA).

Also the Adjutant General branch that keep the personal record of the officer and the Military Secretary branch that looks after promotion and postings will have more interaction here on to avoid discrepancy in their records. Both the departments had different date of birth of the former Army Chief.

The controversy of age that has been plaguing the Indian Army for over last one year has its roots in NDA. It was while filling up the form for this esteemed institution that one of the teachers of the then 14-year-old General – a third generation officer - wrongly filled his year of birth as 1950 instead of 1951. 

Thereafter the date of birth reflected in the Indian Military Academy's (IMA) form is also 1950, a fact contested by General Singh. However, the Defence Ministry had determined Army Chief's year of birth as reflected in his NDA and IMA form. 

The controversy threatened to send the succession plans of the Indian Army in a tizzy and also saw some unprecedented developments like a serving Army Chief dragging the government of the day to the Supreme Court.

Taking its lessons from the controversy the Army has inducted this caveat in its recruitment advertisement. “This is only logical,” Army officials reacted to the development.