India's Theatre Commands Set for Implementation in 2-3 Years

India's anticipated reform concerning theatre commands may require an additional two to three years before its implementation, as indicated by Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi. Speaking at a media event during the passing out parade of the 150th course at the National Defence Academy in Pune, he suggested that while progress is being made, immediate realisation of these plans is unlikely.

General Dwivedi noted, "The theatrisation is on the right track... We are hopeful that the new Chief of Defence Staff should be able to take the journey forward and in next 2-3 years we should be able to see it is happening on the ground." This indicates a cautious optimism about the direction of the reforms, which aim to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces.

The discussions surrounding the establishment of theatre commands have progressed through the Chiefs of Staff Committee, and a comprehensive report has been provided to the Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh. This document is presently under review by various stakeholders before any decisions are finalised.

Out-going Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, who has recently retired, submitted his recommendations on the structure of theatre commands to the Defence Minister following extensive consultations involving all three branches of the armed forces and other governmental entities.

Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani is set to assume the role of India's third Chief of Defence Staff, commencing his duties on Sunday. He will be responsible for advancing reforms in defence, including the development of theatre commands.

General Dwivedi highlighted that the Chiefs of Staff have collectively determined that significant interests across all three services must be taken into account during the reform process. The Army Chief stated, "Whenever there is a kind of synergy that needs to be brought in, there will be some kind of a giveaway by all three services."

The current military structure in India comprises 17 individual commands shared among the Army (seven), Air Force (seven), and Navy (three). The vision is to establish three commands that will focus on operations related to the borders with China and Pakistan, as well as maritime concerns.

Furthermore, General Dwivedi confirmed that the armed forces are prepared for what has been termed Operation Sindoor 2.0. He emphasised that future conflicts would be significantly influenced by advancements in technology, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber warfare, and space capabilities, thereby expanding beyond traditional warfare domains of land, air, and sea.

He remarked on the evolving nature of battlefields, stating that transparency has increased significantly, meaning that movements are more easily observed. "We have to be very cautious in terms of our deployment, employment and the protection required for troops as well as civilians in the border areas," he said. This underlines the necessity for military planners to adopt careful strategies in the context of contemporary conflicts.