Indian Armed Forces Take Step Towards Achieving Jointness And Integration With Common Annual Confidential Report

The Department of Military Affairs on Friday (16 June) paved the way for a common annual confidential report for senior officers serving at two-star and three-star ranks in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.

This move is a step towards achieving commonality in procedures and assessments, leading to better outcomes in terms of 'jointness and integration', accorded to sources quoted by The New Indian Express.

Initially, the a common confidential report has been approved to be implemented for two- and three- star officers.

The implementation timeline for the common confidential report is approximately three to four months.

The annual confidential report is used for an objective and impartial assessment of an officer's character, conduct, capabilities, and performance. In the future, this will be extended to other ranks.

The selection system for posting in combined or tri-services appointments is currently based on parent service-specific parameters.

However, this is expected to change with the implementation of the common annual confidential report.

The common report for senior officers will eventually be extended to other ranks, another source cited in the TNIE report as saying.

In 2019, the government approved a major reform at the higher defence management level by forming the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) and appointing the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) as its secretary.

The CDS' mandate includes the formulation of the Theatre Command, as well as integration and synergy of the armed forces.

The DMA has been tasked with the responsibility of restructuring 17 Military Commands in order to optimise resource utilisation by bringing about jointness in operations, including through the establishment of joint or theatre commands.

Earlier in May, around 100 officers from the Army, Air Force, and Navy were selected to be sent for cross-postings in various arms and services, such as logistics, aviation, and artillery.

The selected officers will be equivalent to the rank of Majors and Lieutenant Colonels in the Army, Lieutenant Commanders and Commanders in the Navy, and Squadron Leaders and Wing Commanders in the Air Force, TNIE reported.