Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan are set to brief the three military chiefs and all senior commanders about significant upcoming changes in military structure, with theatre commands expected to be implemented as early as this year. Gen Chauhan will lead the inaugural Joint Combined Commanders Conference in Lucknow today, while Defence Minister Singh, along with the local MP, will address the top armed forces leaders tomorrow.
Gen Chauhan has prepared a blueprint for the three theatre commands following extensive consultations with top commanders across the services. The plan awaits final approval from the Narendra Modi government. The Northern Theatre Command, to be headquartered in Lucknow, will focus on operations against China. The Western Theatre Command, based in Jaipur, will handle operations related to Pakistan. The Maritime Theatre Command, located in Thiruvananthapuram, will oversee the Indian Ocean region and India’s coastal areas.
Despite some unease among the armed forces about these changes, there is a clear need to enhance coordination between the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Future conflicts will involve multi-dimensional battles with long-range weapons playing a significant role, necessitating new strategies. The era of traditional air-land battles is over, and the Indian military must move past outdated colonial practices to adopt modern tactics suited to the region. The current reliance on doctrines from the permanent members of the UN Security Council should be re-evaluated.
While countries like China and the US have established theatre commands, India’s military is still grappling with a reluctance to relinquish traditional power structures. It is crucial that the new theatre commands are founded on solid military doctrine and objectives rather than mere reforms.
The introduction of theatre commands will bring transformative changes to the Indian armed forces, with theatre commanders holding operational roles and reporting directly to political leaders, bypassing bureaucratic channels. The final structure will incorporate feedback from Defence Minister Singh and national security planners to ensure it addresses current global challenges, including conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and the South China Sea, as well as regional political instability.