The number of resignations or premature retirements during the period in the Air Force was 793 and in the Navy 780, Defence Minister A K Antony said in reply to questions in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

He said 3474 army officers had applied for premature retirement or resignation between 2003 and 2007 and of them 2076 were permitted to leave service.

In the Air Force, 1269 officers had applied while in the Navy, 954 had applied for leaving the job, Antony said.

He said defence personnel leave the service on account of various reasons and they are allowed on account of various reasons like supersession, extreme compassionate grounds, low medical category, failure to acquire minimum educational qualification.