New Delhi, May 9 (IANS): There is no proposal under consideration for providing reservation in armed forces, parliament was told on Friday.
"There is no proposal under consideration of the government to introduce reservation for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Other Backward Classes for recruitment in the armed forces," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
The minister said all recruitments are based on merit, and open to all.
"Recruitment in the armed forces is based on merit and is open to all citizens irrespective of class, caste, community, region or religion. Nature of operational and administrative challenges under which the armed forces function precludes reservation for recruitment in the armed forces," the minister said in response to a question from Lok Sabha member Tapas Paul.