Source:

Report documenting the use of child soldiers in 14 different countries [ID 6817]

10.04.2006 - Source: BBC News

At least 200 pilots want to leave Indian Air Force due to poor working and living conditions ("Pilot unrest in India's air force") [#48847],  [ID 6812]

Document(s): Open document

10.2004 - Source: UK Home Office

Military service ("Country Report - October 2004") [#28325],  [ID 6813]

"[...]5.61 As noted in the Child Soldiers Global Report for 2001,
“The 1950 Constitution (art. 51A) states: "It shall be the duty of every citizen of India … to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so." However there is currently no compulsory recruitment in India. According to the 1972 National Service Act, certain persons can be called to perform national service but no minimum age is specified. The Armed Forces are governed by the Army Act, the Air Force Act, and the Navy Act, respectively, none of which regulate minimum enlistment age. Information provided by the Indian Government indicates that the minimum age of recruitment into the Army is 16. 'Persons who are recruited at the age of 16 years undergo basic military training for up to two and a half years from the date of enrolment and are then inducted into regular service'. In its report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, India claimed that, 'children are not inducted into the armed forces and hence do not take a direct part in hostilities.' During the 1998 session of the UN Working Group negotiating the Optional Protocol, the representative of India reported that: "discussion was going on within the Government about the possibility of raising the age limit for voluntary recruitment from 16. … India also has a Territorial Army (TA) – a voluntary part-time civilian force consisting of departmental and non-departmental units raised from among the employees of government departments and the public sector. The TA is reportedly used in support of the armed forces in areas of insurgency.” [67]

5.62 As cited in War Resisters International 1998, there is no known legal provision for conscientious objection. [21] [...]"

Document(s): Open document

09.08.2004 - Source: BBC News

India and Pakistan have carried out an exchange of prisoners of war at the Wagah border post ("India and Pakistan swap POWs") [#24653],  [ID 6814]

Document(s): Open document

05.07.2004 - Source: BBC News

The father of an Indian army officer has demanded an inquiry into his son's death, saying he was killed trying to expose corruption in his unit ("Inquiry call over officer's death") [#23795],  [ID 6815]

Document(s): Open document

04.2004 - Source: UK Home Office

UK Home Office: Military Service ("Country Report - April 2004") [#22427],  [ID 6816]

"5.36 According to a UNHCR background paper 1998, “Military service is voluntary, although the Constitution states that every citizen has a fundamental duty to perform national service if called upon to do so. The armed forces have traditionally not been involved in domestic politics, and have never instigated a coup.” [6e](p10) According to War Resisters International 1998, legal enlistment age is between the ages of 18 and
25. There is no known legal provision for conscientious objection. [21]"

Document(s): Open document