Personnel Tax

The BJP in it’s manifesto says :

3. Our forces are performing a service to the nation and deserve better pay and privileges.

Towards this end, the BJP is committed to the following measures: a. The pending issues of pay and privileges will be revisited and resolved to the satisfaction of the defence forces. The modalities for setting up a separate Pay Commission for the forces will be expedited; b. All personnel of the Army, Air Force and Navy, as also paramilitary forces, will be exempt from paying income tax on their salaries and perquisites;

This promise is listed under the ” National security: Fear shall no longer stalk this land ” section of the manifesto.

In what way does the tax exemption improve the national security ? Why does it have to be a tax exemption ? If there is going to be a separate pay commission, why not increase the pay and tax at the same rate ? A greater gross income with tax would make the job more attractive than a lower gross income and no tax.

The BJP justifies the promise with “Our forces are performing a service to the nation and deserve better pay and privileges”. How do you define ‘service to the nation’. Does a surgeon who saves hundreds of lives every year or the scientist who developed the weapon carried by these forces perform any less service ? Or is being in the line of fire the criteria ? What about the CRPF or the state police that fights naxals everyday ?