India's Integrated Theatre Commands

• 21 Mar 2025

For Prelims: Integrated theatre command, Chief of Defence Staff, Kargil War, Border Roads Organisation 

For Mains: Importance and challenges of Integrated Theatre Commands in India, Modernisation of India's defence 

Source: HT 

Why in News? 

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has informed a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence that several critical issues must be addressed before implementing integrated theatre commands (ITCs). This comes as part of the MoD's declaration of 2025 as the 'Year of Reforms'.

What is Integrated Theatre Command? 

• About: An ITC is a unified structure where assets from the Army, Navy, and Air Force operate under a single commander for a specific geographical area.  
  • This ensures better coordination, faster decision-making, and improved combat effectiveness.  
  • ITCs will mitigate the shortcomings of single-service operations and integrate emerging war-fighting capabilities, such as cyber and space warfare. 
• Key Committee Recommendations: The Kargil Review Committee, 1999 recommended creation of integrated theatre commands and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to improve joint operations and address coordination failures during the Kargil War. 
  • The Shekatkar Committee, 2016 proposed three integrated theatre commands (Western, Northern, and Southern) to enhance tri-service synergy and resource efficiency. 
• Proposed Theatre Commands in India: Northern Theatre Command (Lucknow) focused on countering threats from China. 
  • Western Theatre Command (Jaipur) centered around threats from Pakistan. 
  • Maritime Theatre Command (Thiruvananthapuram) focused on managing operations in the Indian Ocean Region. 
• Progress Toward Theaterisation: The appointment of the CDS as the head of Department of Military Affairs are momentous steps towards the integration and advancement of defence forces.  
  • Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control, and Discipline) Act 2023 empowers theatre commanders with disciplinary control over all three services and promotes jointness through cross-postings. 
  • First Tri-Service Common Defence Station (Mumbai, 2024) merges logistics and maintenance facilities for all three services under one leadership.

Existing Tri-Service Commands 

• The Andaman and Nicobar Command, based in Port Blair, is India’s first tri-service theatre command, overseeing Southeast Asia and the South China Sea. 
• The Strategic Forces Command (SFC), based in Delhi, responsible for handling India's nuclear deterrence capabilities. 

 

What Challenges Need to be Addressed Before Implementing Theatre Commands? 

• Lack of Joint Doctrine: The Indian Armed Forces have overlapping operational zones but divergent strategic cultures and priorities.  
  • The lack of a unified war-fighting doctrine complicates consensus on command structures. The IAF has resisted theatre commands, fearing dilution of operational control and limited resources. 
• Resource Allocation: The IAF operates with 31 squadrons instead of the sanctioned 42, limiting flexibility in theatre allocations. The Navy's constrained budget affects its role in maritime commands.  
  • The Army dominates budgetary allocations and manpower, potentially skewing command influence and resource distribution. 
  • Additionally, India's military education system remains largely service-specific, lacking institutionalized cross-service training.  
    • Integrating personnel under a unified command structure raises concerns about career progression, rank equivalence, and command hierarchy, making the transition complex. 
• Outdated Equipment: Legacy systems like MiG-21s still operate without upgrades, reflecting deeper procurement and planning flaws. 
  • Delays in indigenous platforms (e.g., Arjun tank, aircraft carrier INS Vishal) highlight capability gaps that affect force integration. 
• Infrastructure & Logistics: Underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in the Northern Theatre, hampers joint operations due to inadequate road and rail connectivity. 
• Technological Integration: India’s theatre commands must enhance cyber, space, and electronic warfare capabilities, as ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) integration is still nascent in India compared to China. 
• Two-Front Threat: India's theatre commands must prepare for a two-front threat from a militarily and economically aligned China and Pakistan, ensuring readiness for simultaneous operations across diverse terrains.

How Can ITC Challenges Be Addressed?

• Unified Military Doctrine: Establish a joint warfighting doctrine through consensus among services to guide theatre command operations.  
  • Promote tri-service strategic planning and operations under the leadership of the CDS. 
• Phased Implementation: Initiate pilot projects in specific domains, such as air defense or maritime operations, to evaluate and refine the theatre command structure. 
• Modernise Command and Control Architecture: Invest in a Indigenous robust, secure, and interoperable C4ISR system (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance).  
  • Integrate cyber and space commands into theatre command planning. 
• Enhance Infrastructure in Forward Areas: Fast-track infrastructure development in border areas through the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Vibrant Villages Programme. 
  • Improve logistics, and energy supply chains for long-term sustainability of forward deployments. 
• Establish Joint Training: Expand  a Tri-Service War College like  National Defence College and integrate service academies with joint training modules.

Conclusion

Integrated Theatre Commands aim to transform India’s military, but challenges like inter-service coordination and technology integration remain. As 2025 marks the "Year of Reforms," theatreisation is set to gain momentum, enhancing India’s defence.

Drishti Mains Question: 

What are the major challenges in implementing Integrated Theatre Commands in India? Suggest solutions. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Prelims

Q. Department of Border Management is a Department of which one of the following Union Ministries? (2008)

(a) Ministry of Defence 
(b) Ministry of Home Affairs 
(c) Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways 
(d) Ministry of Environment and Forests 

Ans: (b)

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Mains 

Q1: Analyze the multidimensional challenges posed by external state and non-state actors, to the internal security of India. Also discuss measures required to be taken to combat these threats. (2021) 

Q2: Analyze internal security threats and transborder crimes along Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan borders including Line of Control (LoC). Also discuss the role played by various security forces in this regard. (2020) 

Q3: Border management is a complex task due to difficult terrain and hostile relations with some countries. Elucidate the challenges and strategies for effective border management. (2016)