Letters: What is merit?

This refers to Ajai Shukla's column "Stop 'Mandalising' the military" (Broadsword, July 9). While his epistle to implement merit as the criteria for promotion is laudable, the concept of "merit", at least in the army, is incongruous. The Order of Merit (OoM) is the best "humour in uniform" joke that stays for life. Indian Commission (IC) numbers are given according to OoM in the Indian Military Academy and have a bearing on promotions thereafter. Perhaps, there should be a weight - 40 per cent for the latest command assignment and 30, 20 and 10 for each of of the earlier annual confidential reports. How can an OoM at the time of being a cadet be relevant at the time of a promotion? The best battalion, brigade, division, corps and army commanders will not become chiefs because someone only higher at IMA made the cut! Are we getting the best people as chiefs and army commanders?

T R Ramaswami Mumbai

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