The government has approved significant changes in the promotion policy for military officers, in an effort to weed out subjectivity and nepotism.
NEW DELHI: The government has approved significant changes in the promotion policy for military officers, in an effort to weed out subjectivity and nepotism. Given the high-level of discretion that the military promotion boards enjoy, hundreds of officers have gone to civil courts challenging denial of promotions.
According to the ministry of defence, in the new policy, effective from January 1, 2009, the variable component of five percent of the marks has been better defined to reduce subjectivity and indiscretion by the board.
The 95% marks, which were based on the ACR (annual confidential report) marks, will now also include specified marks for honours and degrees too. This would mean the importance of the ACR marks is further reduced, and an outstanding officer who has won a bravery award or who has completed a higher course will get due weightage. For example, a Param Vir Chakra winner will get an extra two marks in this 95 per cent fixed component.
The five percent variable component has been highly refined to further reduce discretionary powers of the promotion board. The performance aspects covered under ‘battle performance report’ filed immediately after an operation, remarks given under ACR’s ‘pen picture’, and other miscellaneous remarks would be graded for inclusion in this five percent.
The board will have to also consider the potential employability of an officer in higher ranks, challenges in appointments held in the past, and relative ‘toughness’ of the immediate boss that could have resulted in low marks in the ACR.
An MOD spokesman said the reforms are meant to achieve “more comprehensive and scientific method of evaluation with all quantifiable factors drawn into the ambit of quantification.” He said the proposed method will reduce human errors, reduce subjectivity, and hopefully will withstand legal scrutiny.
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