Language Allowance
Service Officers and PBORs are granted Language Allowance to encourage them to learn foreign languages and carry out instructional translations and interpreter duties as and when required. The purpose of this allowance is to attract quality volunteers for meeting the requirements related to translation/interpreting of technical documents as most technologies available with the Defence Forces at present are imported with documentation in the foreign language which is needed to be translated urgently. The present rates of the allowance are as under:
|
Category of Language |
Amount of Allowance |
|
Category I |
₹1350 pm |
|
Category II |
₹1126 pm |
|
Category III |
₹900 pm |
Services have sought a four-fold increase in the rate of this allowance.
Analysis and Recommendations
Since the allowance is already partially indexed to DA, it is recommended to raise it by a factor of 1.5. The amount will further rise by 25 percent each time DA rises by 50 percent. As at present, the allowance should be payable subject to passing of an annual language examination.