§ MR. O'DONNELLasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it 591 is true that soldiers in the Native Indian Army are required to serve for thirty and forty years, and that no pension is due until after some thirty years of service; whether the duration of the service of Native Officers in the ranks, previous to promotions to Commissions, varies from twenty to thirty and forty years; whether it is true, as stated in the "Bombay Gazette," that the pay and service are so unpopular in Bombay that "only the scum of the Dekkan" enter the Native Army; and, whether it is proposed to introduce any reform?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSSir, soldiers in the Native Indian Army are not required to serve for 30 and 40 years. In time of peace they may take their discharge, at their own pleasure, at any time after three years' service, provided that their troop or company is not 10 per cent below established strength. They are entitled to pension after 32 years in the Line or 40 in a local corps; and, if invalided, they are entitled to pension or gratuity according to their length of service. The duration of the service of Native officers in the ranks, previous to their promotion to commissions, varies from short periods up to 30 years. Occasionally Native gentlemen are appointed to commissions without serving in the ranks, but such appointments are made on probation. The proportion of soldiers from the Deccan in the Bombay Native Army is less than one-fourth. I have no reason to suppose that these men are the "scum of the Deccan." It is not proposed to introduce any special reforms on this subject.