Context:
- The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Anil Chauhan emphasized that the creation of Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs) marks the next phase of India’s military reforms.
- The views are articulated in his book “Ready, Relevant and Resurgent: A Blueprint for the Transformation of India’s Military.”
- The reform seeks to fundamentally restructure India’s higher defence management by enhancing jointness, efficiency, and operational effectiveness.
Key Highlights:
Separation of Roles for Greater Efficiency
- Theatre Commanders will be responsible for Force Application, i.e., operational execution and conduct of military missions.
- Service Chiefs (Army, Navy, Air Force) will focus on Force Generation, including:
- Raising forces
- Training personnel
- Sustaining logistics, manpower, and equipment
- This creates parallel yet complementary command streams, reducing role overlap.
Strategic Shift in Military Command Structure
- Theatre Commands move India from service-based commands to geography-based integrated commands.
- Each theatre will have assets from all three services under a single operational commander.
- Expected outcomes:
- Enhanced inter-service synergy
- Reduced duplication of resources
- Improved resource optimisation and planning
Role of the CDS as Reform Catalyst
- CDS acts as the principal military adviser and facilitator of jointness.
- Responsible for:
- Infrastructure integration
- Doctrinal alignment
- Optimisation of defence resources
- Emphasises that cultural and institutional shifts are essential for successful reform.
Organisational Restructuring Across Echelons
- Theatre Command reforms will trigger changes from:
- Apex-level headquarters
- To field formations and operational units
- Aims to improve decision-making speed, accountability, and mission execution.
Challenges in Implementation
- Possible resistance within services due to perceived loss of autonomy.
- Requires:
- Officer sensitisation and training
- Doctrinal revisions
- Operational and infrastructure realignment
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue & Causes
- Fragmented service-based command structures reduce joint operational efficiency.
- Need to prepare for modern, multi-domain and two-front warfare.
- Government Initiatives
- Creation of Chief of Defence Staff (2019)
- Proposal for Integrated Theatre Commands
- Defence infrastructure and logistics integration
- Benefits
- Faster operational response
- Better utilisation of defence resources
- Unified military planning and execution
- Challenges
- Inter-service coordination issues
- Organisational inertia
- Infrastructure and training demands
- Impact
- Strengthens India’s military preparedness and deterrence posture.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Key Concepts & Definitions
- Theatre Command: Unified command combining assets of Army, Navy, and Air Force in a defined geographic theatre.
- Force Application: Employment of combat power in operations.
- Force Generation: Recruitment, training, equipping, and sustaining military forces.
- Jointness: Integrated planning and execution among services across domains.
- Static & Conceptual Linkages
- GS Paper III: Internal Security, Defence Reforms, Military Modernisation
- GS Paper II: Governance, Institutional Reforms, Civil–Military Relations
- Way Forward
- Gradual, phased implementation of Theatre Commands.
- Extensive training and doctrinal harmonisation.
- Strengthen political oversight and strategic guidance.
- Foster a joint military culture aligned with global best practices.