The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has highlighted an ongoing manpower shortage in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), particularly noting vacancies in the officer cadre. This issue arises due to the reluctance of UPSC-selected candidates to work in challenging conditions. The Committee has recommended that the Ministry of Defence speed up the process of filling key technical posts.
According to the report, BRO officers are recruited through examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). However, due to harsh climatic conditions, remote postings, and the nature of field duties, BRO is “not a preferred organisation for UPSC-selected officers”. The Committee observed that the shortage is most prominent in the Assistant
Executive Engineer (AEE) category.
The Ministry of Defence informed the panel that it has forwarded a proposal to the UPSC to recruit 42 civil engineering officers and five electrical and mechanical engineering officers under the Border Roads Engineering Service (BRES). Although the proposal has been approved by the Department of Personnel and Training, it was returned once by UPSC with observations. Coordination meetings have been held to emphasise the urgency of the recruitment.
It has been noted that maintaining optimum manpower strength is essential, given BRO’s labour-intensive operational model and the geographical challenges of road-building in border regions.
BRO is responsible for India’s strategic connectivity programme, including the construction of roads, tunnels, and bridges in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and other forward-facing sectors. These projects often operate within short seasonal work windows and demanding terrain. The Ministry of Defence has assured the panel that recruitment and staffing issues are being addressed.
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