India’s Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh has approved certain decisions regarding re-organisation of Army headquarters (HQ). The approval has been given based on a detailed internal study conducted by the Army headquarters. The decisions are as follows:

• A separate Vigilance Cell under COAS with Tri-Services representation – At present, the vigilance function for the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is through multiple agencies and there is no single point interface. An independent vigilance cell will be made functional under COAS. Accordingly, Additional Director General (Vigilance) will be placed directly under the COAS for this purpose. It will have three Colonel-level officers (one each from Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy). This will be done within the existing posts at Army HQ.

• An umbrella organisation under VCOAS for enhanced focus on human rights issues – To give high priority to observance of human rights convention and values, it has been decided to set up a special Human Rights Section headed by Additional Director General (Major General rank officer) directly under the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS). It will be the nodal point to examine any human rights violation reports. To enhance transparency and ensure the best of investigative expertise is available to the section, a Police officer of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)/SP rank will be taken on deputation.

• Re-location of 206 Army Officers from Army HQ to Formations/Units of the Field Army – A total of 206 officers will be optimized from Army HQ and these officers will be made available additionally to Formations/Units of the Field Army, as per details given below: