Restructuring the force: Army chief to hold talks with top generals today

While Rawat is firmly in the saddle, his proposed reforms cut so deeply into existing hierarchies and interest groups that buy-in from senior generals is essential

Army chief General Bipin Rawat will hold talks with his top generals – the seven army commanders, and his personal staff officers – on Tuesday here, seeking to bring them on board as he embarks on the most far-reaching personnel and organisational reforms the force has attempted since Independence.

The defence ministry has already initiated a reduction of 57,000 personnel, including 30,000 civilian employees, in line with the recommendations of the Shekatkar Committee. Now Rawat is courageously targeting the reduction of another 50,000 uniformed soldiers.

These include not just logistics and services personnel, but even manpower from infantry battalions —