Armed Forces Rank Disparity Issue: Manohar Parrikar Promises To Fix Any Discrepancies Within A Week

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said today (25 October) the ministry would check if ranks of armed forces personnel have changed vis-a-vis their civilian counterparts, and any discrepancies would be rectified in a week.

A circular issued by the Defence Ministry, dated October 18, on rank equivalence between defence officers and armed forces headquarters (AFHQ), and civil service officers brings the rank of armed forces officers a notch down compared to earlier status.

According to the circular, a Major General in the army and equivalent - which will be Rear Admiral in the navy and Air Vice Marshal in the air force - will be equal to a principal director in the civil service ranks at AFHQ.

A Brigadier in the army, and equivalents - Commodore in the navy and Air Commodore in the air force - will be equal to a director, and a Colonel in the army - captain in the navy and Group Captain in the air force - will be equal to a joint director in the civil service.

Earlier, a Colonel was equated with a director, Brigadier was treated at par with a deputy director-general, and a Major General was treated as equivalent of a joint secretary.

Parrikar, however, said that the classifications do not reflect the status, but are related to "functional responsibilities", and added that it is being studied.

The minister also said if any discrepancy is found, it will be removed in a week.

"If there are any discrepancies, we will get them corrected in a week," Parrikar said.

With inputs from IANS