Singapore
Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Grandson Begins Mandatory Two-Year Military Training in Singapore: Singapore’s mandatory military service has come into sharp focus after Aditya, the 18-year-old grandson of veteran Indian politician Lalu Prasad Yadav, began his two-year Basic Military Training (BMT) under the city-state’s National Service (NS) framework.
Aditya’s enlistment has sparked public curiosity, but officials and experts emphasize that this is not a voluntary decision, nor an Indian military posting. It is a legal obligation under Singapore law for eligible young men who have lived in the country long term and fall under its conscription rules.
Aditya has resided in Singapore for several years with his family. His mother, Rohini Acharya, one of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughters, and her husband have lived in Singapore as residents for a long period. Aditya completed his pre-university education there before reporting for BMT upon turning 18, the standard enlistment age under Singapore’s National Service regulations.
Because of this long-term residence, Aditya is legally liable for National Service. Singapore requires all male citizens and second-generation permanent residents (PRs) to complete two years of full-time National Service, followed by reservist duties. The law applies uniformly, regardless of nationality, family background, or political lineage.
Basic Military Training forms the foundation of Singapore’s defense system. The initial training phase typically lasts nine to ten weeks, during which recruits undergo intensive physical conditioning and military instruction. Trainees learn rifle handling, weapons safety, fieldcraft, map reading, and basic combat drills. The program also emphasizes teamwork, discipline, leadership, and mental resilience.
Physical training remains rigorous. Recruits participate in long-distance running, obstacle courses, and strength conditioning exercises designed to prepare them for operational readiness. After completing BMT, recruits move to assigned units for specialized training and operational roles, continuing their service until they complete the mandatory two-year period.
Aditya’s participation in Singapore’s military training does not mean he voluntarily joined a foreign army, nor does it indicate any connection to India’s military system. It also does not automatically confirm Singaporean citizenship. Instead, it strongly suggests that he qualifies as a second-generation Singapore permanent resident, a category that carries the same National Service obligations as citizenship.
Under Singapore law, eligible individuals must register for National Service from around age 16. They must attend medical examinations, interviews, and official reporting sessions conducted by the Central Manpower Base. Those who study abroad or travel for extended periods must obtain official Exit Permits and, in some cases, post financial bonds to guarantee their return for service.
Once individuals complete their full-time National Service, they must continue as operationally ready reservists, attending periodic training and fulfilling defense duties for several years. They are also legally required to keep authorities informed about changes in address, education, or travel plans that could affect their service obligations.
Could Aditya have avoided military training without consequences? The answer is no.
Singapore’s Enlistment Act treats refusal or failure to report for National Service as a serious offense. Defaulters face heavy fines, imprisonment, and, in the case of permanent residents, potential cancellation of PR status. This strict enforcement underlines the central role National Service plays in Singapore’s national identity and security.
Singapore has approximately 3.66 million citizens and around 540,000 permanent residents, including many families of Indian origin. In recent years, about 20 percent of National Service enlistees have been permanent residents or newly naturalized citizens. Over a five-year period, roughly 7,200 second-generation PRs completed National Service, while about 2,600 renounced their PR status before enlistment, highlighting the seriousness of the legal obligation.
In 2021 alone, around 2,000 permanent residents enlisted for full-time National Service alongside approximately 2,500 new citizens. These figures show that children from long-term resident families routinely undergo military training, regardless of ethnicity or background.
Aditya’s enlistment, therefore, reflects a broader national system rather than an exceptional case. As the grandson of a prominent Indian political figure living in Singapore, he now joins thousands of other young men who fulfill the same statutory duty—serving as part of Singapore’s disciplined and tightly regulated National Service framework.
