HC Deb 05 April 1928 vol 215 c2150W
Mr. LANSBURY

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that, according to the statement of classes recruited for the fighting arms of the Indian Army included as Appendix XIV of the Recruiting Regulations of the Indian Army, no Hindu who is not a member of the Rajput, Brahmana, Jat, Ahir, or Gujar castes is eligible for recruitment for the Indian Army in the Punjab, Bombay, Bengal, United Provinces, Bihar and Orissa, Gujrat, Sindh, and the North-West Frontier Province; that amongst Brahmanas only certain sub-castes are eligible and then only for the artillery; that only Sikhs, Dogras, Rajputs, and Jats are eligible for recruitment for the cavalry; and whether this statement in Appendix XIV still regulates recruitment for the Indian Army?

Earl WINTERTON

The existing class composition of the Indian Army does not correspond in every respect with the statement to which the hon. Member refers. If he wishes, inquiries will be made as to what are the latest regulations that have been issued on the subject.