New grading system to evaluate Army officers on scale of 1 to 9 from March 31

The Army is going to implement a grading system for Lieutenant Generals in a major shift in its evaluation process. Coming into effect on March 31, this new system will assess three-star officers on a scale of one to nine, a statement said on Saturday.

Until now, the grading system in the Army was only applicable to the rank of Major General, a two-star general officer rank and the third-highest active rank in the force.

Once an officer attained the rank of Lieutenant General (a three-star general officer rank and second-highest active rank behind Army chief), their performance was no longer subject to such evaluations. Under the new



system, however, Lieutenant Generals, except Army Commanders and the Vice Chief of Army Staff, will also undergo evaluation under the grading system.

Each rank in the Army has predefined quality parameters, with grades ranging from one to nine, as documented in the Annual Confidential Report (ACR). These grades play a critical role in determining promotions.

Speaking about the development and the grading system, a senior Army official said, "The grading system for Lieutenant Generals will help identify the most suitable candidates for higher responsibilities, such as Corps Commanders or Army Commanders, based on performance, not just seniority".