Under consideration: Compulsory military service for anyone wanting a government job

The government is considering compulsory military service for anyone wanting a job with the government, news reports said Thursday.  

The compulsory military service will last five years and is expected to help make up the shortfall in the forces. 

The Indian Army is at the moment short of 7,000 officers and more than 20,000 soldiers. Likewise, the Indian Air Force and Navy are both short of some 150 officers and 15,000 men. 

The proposal is being pondered by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which reports to the Prime Minister. The DoPT is tasked with making policy and administering government servants. 

The proposal was first made by a Parliamentary Standing Committee, after it was moved by the Ministry of Defence as an emergency measure to make up the shortfall in the defence forces. 

The five years of military service will have to be undergone by anybody wanting a job with either the Central government or a state government.