The Ministry of Defence had constituted a Committee of Experts under the Chairmanship of Lt Gen (Retd) (Dr.) DB Shekatkar with a mandate to recommend measures for enhancing of Combat Capability & Rebalancing Defence Expenditure of the Armed Forces with an aim to increase "teeth to tail ratio".
The Committee of experts had submitted its report to the Ministry in December, 2016. The report was considered by the Ministry of Defence and 99 recommendations were sent to the Armed Forces for making an implementation plan. It is the first ever exercise after Independence. It was done by the Ministry of Defence in consultation with the Indian Army to reform the Indian Army in a planned manner.
Major reforms concerning the following have been approved:
- Optimisation of Signals Establishments to include Radio Monitoring Companies, Corps Air Support Signal Regiments, Air Formation Signal Regiments, Composite Signal Regiments and merger of Corps Operating and Engineering Signal Regiments.
- Restructuring of repair echelons in the Army to include Base Workshops, Advance Base Workshops and Static/Station Workshops in the field Army.
- Redeployment of Ordnance echelons to include Vehicle Depots, Ordnance Depots and Central Ordnance Depots apart from streamlining inventory control mechanisms.
- Better utilization of Supply and Transport echelons and Animal Transport units.
- Closure of Military Farms and Army postal establishments in peace locations.
- Enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army.
- Improving the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps.
These reforms will be completed in all respects by 31 December 2019. Restructuring by the Indian Army is aimed at improving operational preparedness and civilians will be redeployed in different wings of the Armed Forces for improving efficiency.
