Indian Military Revolution, Look For Younger Troops

JAKARTA - The Indian military is overhauling their recruitment process for personnel with certain ranks. The goal is for young people to be in a position to deploy younger and fitter troops on the front lines.

India is a country bordering Pakistan and has a number of conflicts. Not to mention the Himalayan dispute in the highlands with China.

But India is one of the largest armed forces in the world with about 1.38 million personnel.

Soldiers have been recruited by the army, separately and usually for a period of up to 17 years from the lowest rank.

Under the new system, men and women between the ages of 17 and 21 will be brought into the armed forces. Many of them serve a maximum term of four years.

A total of 46.000 troops will be recruited this year on four-year contracts with a quarter expected to be retained at the end of that term.

"This scheme will strengthen the security of the country and provide opportunities for our youth for military service," Defense Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters in New Delhi,

In the Indian army, the largest of its three forces, the average age will drop from 32 to 26, said its leader, General Manoj Pande.

"A younger profile will help train troops more easily in newer technologies, and their health and fitness levels will be much better," Singh said.