Islamabad, January 31 : Suicide cases in Indian army are on the rise as the suicide incidents in the Indian army personnel are increasing with each passing day. A rising wave of suicides in the Indian Armed Forces exposes critical failures in morale, substandard food and rations, lack of professionalism, officer mistreatment, and corruption.
Between 2014 and 2024, the Indian Army reported 983 suicides, the Navy 96, and the Indian Air Force 246, resulting in over 100 non-combat deaths annually, with a soldier dying every third day by suicide or fratricide—outnumbering combat fatalities.
Severe operational and non-operational stress, as confirmed by the 2019–2020 United Service Institution (USI) study, has driven suicide rates to alarming levels, fueled by subpar training, excessive workloads, and psychological distress.
In July 2022, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt disclosed in Rajya Sabha that in the last five years, the Army recorded 642 suicides, the IAF 148, and the Navy 29, highlighting a persistent crisis.
According to The Times of India, 1,100 military suicides occurred between 2010 and 2019, with 895 in the Army, 185 in the IAF, and 32 in the Navy, underscoring a decade-long failure in personnel welfare.
The crisis extends beyond the military. The Quint reported 25 fratricide cases (2019–2021), 345 suicides (2017–2019), and nearly 47,000 voluntary resignations or retirements (2016–2020) in Civil Armed Forces (CAF), reflecting widespread discontent.
Stalled promotions, and biased postings have led to career stagnation, frustration, and psychological breakdowns, while unrealistic expectations from senior officers place excessive pressure on subordinates.
Troops suffer prolonged isolation in remote deployments and conflict zones, exacerbating stress and alienation.
Mistreatment by superiors, including humiliation and harassment, has created a toxic culture of fear and resentment.
Unresolved family, financial, and marital issues—once addressed by military leadership—now go unheeded, adding to soldiers' distress, while poor leadership and institutional apathy continue to neglect personnel welfare.
Corruption and mismanagement result in inadequate food, poor rations, and lack of essential resources, further deteriorating troop morale.
Bureaucratic and structural failures, including overburdened commitments, frequent dislocations, unfair promotions, pay downgrades, leave denials, and short command tenures, have made soldiers feel exploited and disposable.
The Indian Armed Forces are crumbling from within as institutional negligence, abusive leadership, and systemic failures continue to push their own soldiers toward suicide at an alarming rate. source KMS