BTW, even if the BBC report was true, those 200 pilots would have to be from the transport stream, to be type qualified on large/medium multiengined passenger aircraft and hence employable by civilian airlines. Not fighter pilots who would have to go through a highly expensive type qualification process (and time consuming)- for a fighter pilot to go to a large a/c is not necessarily easy, and civilian airlines in india shy away from paying for it. They prefer minted pilots. So you end up with the usual transport stream folks wanting to go elsewhere. Makes sense about them moving because, they wont become the CAS anytime soon either- thats for the fighter folks and combat arm of the AF. Since AF is primarily offensive (IAF per its doctrine) and hence needs a fighter pilot at helm.
Now EVEN if these folks left, at wartime, the IAF would simply requisition civilian airlines to move men and material- so end result is not much different. And also have reserve pilots on call.
So the entire thing is much ado over nothing.

For fighter pilots- right now is the best time to be in the IAF, the entire fleet is getting a makeover, and all obscolescent 2nd gen a/c (Mig 21’s) are getting phased out & replaced with 4th gen ones. Combat power is rising despite a shortfall in overall number of squadrons (which has freed up even more fighter pilots to boost avaialble squadrons). 37 Jags on order should form 2 Squadrons- that will take the # to 31 if I am correct.

Then theres the MRCA order. While current Mig27/Jag upgrades go on, and Mig29/Mirage 2000 ones follow.