AFMC to conduct DNA profile of soldiers

Armed Forces Medical Services has started a project to conduct DNA profile of soldiers and develop necessary protocol for identifying them from their body tissues, government told the Lok Sabha today.
In a written reply to the House, Defence Minister A K Antony said the pilot project is in progress at Armed Forces Medical College, Pune.
"The objectives of the project are to devise a protocol for collection, preservation and transportation of blood samples of the soldiers, maintain absolute accuracy in personal information and tagging of specimen and to devise protocol for procedure for identifying service personnel from any fragment of body tissue," he said.

The project 'Development of Protocol for DNA Profiling (Identification) and Repository of Personal of Armed Forces' has been approved by the Armed Forces Medical Research Committee and the pilot project will be completed by 2014.
In reply to a separate question over permanent commission to women in the armed forces, Antony said it has not been recommended by the studies carried out by the high-level Tri Service Committee.
"Induction of women in combat duties has not been recommended by the studies carried out by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff in 2006 and High Level Tri-Service Committee in 2011," he said, adding that, "However, efforts are on to increase women officers in non-combat stream."

In 2012, total 313 women joined the armed force, with the highest number of 157 such officers getting commissioned into the Army. 125 women officers were commissioned into the Air Force.
Replying to another question on DRDO stepping up the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) programme, Antony said that the project is on to develop Rustom-II- Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV.
DRDO is also developing a High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAV, he said.