Shekatkar Committee

Shekatkar Committee
Name	Shekatkar Committee
Formed	2016
Jurisdiction	India
Chairman	Lt. Gen. D. S. Shekatkar (Retd.)
Purpose	Enhance combat capability and rebalance defence resources

Shekatkar Committee The Shekatkar Committee was a 2016 Indian governmental review panel chaired by Lt. Gen. D. S. Shekatkar (Retd.) to recommend measures to improve Indian Armed Forces' combat potential and optimize resources. It reported to the Ministry of Defence (India) and proposed structural, administrative, and fiscal changes affecting the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. The report influenced decisions by the Government of India and sparked debate across Parliament of India, Defence Research and Development Organisation, and strategic think tanks such as the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.

Background and Establishment

The committee was constituted in the aftermath of multiple reviews including the Kargil Review Committee and the Naresh Chandra Task Force to address perceived inefficiencies between the Border Roads Organisation, Integrated Defence Staff, and service headquarters. Rising concerns after incidents near the Line of Control and developments along the Line of Actual Control with the People's Republic of China underscored proposals for force rationalization similar to reforms debated after the Siachen Glacier deployment and lessons from the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The decision to appoint Lt. Gen. D. S. Shekatkar (Retd.), a veteran of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, reflected a preference for experienced military leadership with links to the Defence Services Staff College, Southern Command (India), and other institutions.

Mandate and Composition

The committee's mandate covered enhancing combat capability, better utilization of infrastructure held by organisations such as the Ordnance Factory Board, and rationalising manpower across the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. Members included retired officers from the Indian Army and personnel with experience in the National Security Council Secretariat, Cabinet Secretariat (India), and defence production bodies like the Bharat Electronics Limited and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Observers and contributors came from the Defence Accounts Department, Border Security Force, and civilian experts associated with the Rashtriya Raksha University and leading universities.

Key Recommendations

The committee recommended measures such as closing or repurposing redundant defence establishments, redeploying personnel from static administrative roles to operational units, and increasing jointness through mechanisms akin to the Chief of Defence Staff concept debated in past reviews. It proposed reducing non-functional posts in organisations including the Ordnance Factory Board and rationalising the footprint of the Station Headquarters units. Other recommendations addressed optimization of pension liabilities affecting the Armed Forces Tribunal, streamlining procurement frameworks involving the Defence Research and Development Organisation and DRDO, and enhancing infrastructure sharing between the Indian Navy and Coast Guard (India).

Implementation and Outcomes

Following submission, the Ministry of Defence (India) approved several measures including closure of select military establishments, reorganisation of static regimental units, and redeployment of staff to frontline and technical roles. The government action intersected with reforms leading to the appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff and establishment of theatre commands discussed in the Kargil Review Committee lineage. Outcomes included manpower reductions in specific administrative cadres, repurposing of defence land administered by the Defence Estates Organisation, and directives to organisations such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the Ordnance Factory Board to align with new structures.

Reception and Criticism

Reactions spanned endorsements from former service chiefs linked to the Indian Army and think tanks like the Observer Research Foundation, to criticism from trade unions connected to the Ordnance Factory Board and veterans groups associated with the Indian Ex-Servicemen's League. Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha raised concerns about closures affecting employment in regions dependent on defence establishments, invoking examples from debates over the Siachen conflict logistics and base conversions after the 1971 war. Legal challenges and disputes involving the Armed Forces Tribunal and workforce unions prompted discussions in the Supreme Court of India and media outlets such as The Hindu and Indian Express.

Impact on Defence Reforms

The committee's report contributed to a broader reform agenda that included creating joint structures like the Integrated Defence Staff and advancing procurement and indigenisation priorities promoted by Make in India and institutions like the Defence Research and Development Organisation. Its emphasis on rationalisation influenced policy towards a leaner administrative apparatus across the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, and reinforced momentum for structural changes culminating in initiatives under successive Prime Minister of India administrations. The legacy of the panel is reflected in ongoing debates on theatre command implementation, veteran welfare overseen by the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme, and the future role of establishments such as the Ordnance Factory Board in a modernised defence industrial base.

Category:Defence of India