§ 15. Mr. COCKSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why Indian students at the British universities are debarred from joining the Officers Training Corps at their respective colleges; and whether he will take steps to remove this restriction?
§ Mr. COOPERThe Officers Training Corps is designed to train potential officers for the Regular and Territorial Armies and the Supplementary Reserve, and since Indian students are not eligible for commissions in these forces, the Officers Training Corps is not open to them. No change in the regulations is contemplated.
§ Mr. COCKSSeeing that the policy of the Government is to increase the Indianisation of the Army in India, could not the regulations be altered to enable commissions to be given to Indians?
§ Mr. COOPERIt is not considered that it would assist in any way the granting of commissions to Indians in the Indian Army.
§ Mr. HOLFORD KNIGHTWill the hon. Gentleman give any reason for this discrimination against students in the same colleges?
§ Mr. COOPERI have just given the reason.