India’s long-pending military theatre commands proposal is set to move to the next stage, with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General N S Raja Subramani expected to seek Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s approval later this month.
According to people familiar with the matter, General Subramani will make a detailed presentation on the proposed restructuring before the defence minister and other stakeholders. If the proposal receives the minister’s approval, it will be forwarded to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for final clearance.
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The proposal has been under discussion since 2022.
What are the proposed theatre commands?
The theatre commands plan seeks to integrate the operational capabilities of the Army, Navy and Air Force under unified command structures.
According to the proposal, India will have three integrated theatre commands — Northern (focused on China), Western (focused on Pakistan) and Maritime, which will also oversee the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
The restructuring also proposes the creation of four new four-star appointments, including the Vice Chief of Defence Staff (VCDS). Each theatre command would be headed by a four-star officer with operational control during military contingencies.
General Subramani’s predecessor, General Anil Chauhan, had submitted the final draft of the proposal before completing his tenure on May 31.
Why has the proposal remained under discussion?
While the political leadership has consistently backed military theatre commands as part of wider defence reforms, differences remain within the armed forces over aspects of the proposed structure.
According to the people cited above, the Army and the Navy broadly support the reforms, while the Air Force has expressed coAccording to the above mentioned persons, the Army and the Navy generally favour the proposed reforms, whereas the Air Force is apprehensive about splitting its limited air power amongst several commands.
In the proposed system, service chiefs would manage mainly the issues of training, forces’ growth and sustainment, whereas operations in wartime would be managed by theatre commanders.
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Besides, the proposal has initiated debates in the defence community regarding the need for more four star posts.
In case the proposal is accepted by the CCS, it would be considered one of the most important restructures of India’s higher defence management systems.
FAQs
What are the proposed theatre commands of India?
This proposal aims at forming theatre commands consisting of the Army, Navy and Air Force operating under one command for various geographic theatres..
What happens after Rajnath Singh reviews the proposal?
If the defence minister approves the plan, it will be sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final approval.
