CDS Appointment & Command Restructuring: News & Discussions

[SBajwa]

[Rakesh]

Modi govt sets timeline for theaterisation, work being sped up
https://theprint.in/defence/modi-govt-s ... p/2084552/
14 May 2024

Modi dispensation wants it rolled out within one year of the new govt's swearing-in. Comes after armed forces held a conference to review progress of plan.

[Kanoji]

The plan entails a three-stage process that includes among other things self-reliance, adapting to technology and defining what is integration.

India’s Biggest Military Reforms: Final Shape Given To Contours Of Theatre Commands, Proposal To Be Sent To Government Soon
https://swarajyamag.com/news-brief/indi ... nment-soon
22 May 2024

[AkshaySG]

Has there been any info on the chain of command we finalized on?

Will it be PM - > RM - > Theatre Commanders or will the CDS role also be elevated with operational control.

[Rakesh]

CDS Calls For ‘Jointness 2.0’ For Integrated Theatre Commands
https://bharatshakti.in/cds-calls-for-j ... -commands/
21 May 2024

[VinodTK]

From: The WEEK

Brigadier-rank officers get posting orders for theatre commands

For sure, the theaterisation move is gathering traction even as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, of late, has been travelling the length and breadth of the country meeting the men in uniform, asking them to prepare for what has been called the Indian military’s biggest transformation move.

“And wherever he cannot go due to paucity of time and logistics, he is meeting the officers online in video conferences,” an official familiar with the developments told THE WEEK.

The office of the CDS was created on September 30, 2022, with the core mandate of theaterisation, promoting jointness and integration of the Indian military.

“In the meantime, military officials in the rank of brigadiers in the army and commodores in the air force and the navy have been asked to report to their new integrated postings in a few days from now,” the official added.

The new postings are mainly for Jaipur (Pakistan-centric command), Lucknow (China centric command) and Visakhapatnam (navy centric command).

With theaterisation, a single commander in a designated zone will command all the assets and resources of all forces be it from the army, the navy or the air force stationed in that zone.

The challenges are not just about amalgamation and integration of men but also of weapons systems and platforms that is made more difficult because of the possibility of non-compatability among the systems.

Colonel and below-ranked officers in the army, group captain and below-ranked officers in the air force, captain and below-ranked officers in the navy had already started moving to these commands from about a year back.

The move towards theatre commands encountered its initial hiccups in the IAF’s ‘reservations’ on certain issues. Since then, the ‘reservations’ are understood to have been hammered out.

Last week, CDS Gen Chauhan had said during a speech in an event in New Delhi that “as there were no major differences, there is an impetus to move towards the next level of jointness” among the armed services.

“The creation of such (theatre) commands will separate the ‘operational’ functions from the Raise-Train-Sustain (RTS) and other administrative functions, and will allow greater focus of the operational commander to matters of security”.

Saying that theatre commands will not be an end state but the beginning of the next set of reforms, the CDS said it will lead to the next set of reforms like “single to multi domain operations, fusing space and cyber space into traditional domains, digitisation of battlefield information and visualisation, net centric to data centric among others”.

On May 10 and 11, the CDS presided over a two day ‘Parivartan Chintan’ (transformative discussion) in South Block that was attended by the heads of all Tri-services Institutes and was “aimed at generating novel reformative ideas & initiatives”.

[VinodTK]

Fostering ti-service collabration at grassroots level: 40 trainee officers commence joint training at DSSC

[VinodTK]

Three Theatre Command bases identified, Military Affairs Dept working to integrate forces for future wars

New Delhi [India], July 3 (ANI): Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured that the creation of Theatre Commands was on track, the Defence Ministry has identified three locations in Lucknow, Jaipur and Thiruvananthapuram as their headquarters.
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[ramana]

Background article for Indian defence organization

https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/ ... dent-india

[chetak]

This is an old picture

Poignant


Looks like a regular photograph until you see it up close.

It’s a moving tribute.

Missing Man Formation as a mark of respect for India’s first CDS General Bipin Rawat.

[Rakesh]

First Defence Minister-led Joint Commanders' Conference to discuss security challenges, future warfare
https://aninews.in/news/national/genera ... 816185658/
16 August 2024

https://x.com/Duorope/status/1824456559935590906 ---> Lucknow based Central Command (Surya) will also be converted into the 1st Integrated Theater Command.

[Rakesh]

Integrated theatre commands plan ready for government nod
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... 074831.cms
04 Sept 2024

[VinodTK]

India set for its biggest military reform as Integrated Theatre Commands await final govt nod

proposal is with the defence ministry to set up a China-focused Northern Theatre Command in Lucknow, a Pakistan-centric Western Theatre Command in Jaipur and a Maritime Theatre Command in Thiruvananthapuram, aligning with the 'one border, one force' concept
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[VinodTK]

Integrated command centers in Lucknow, Jaipur and Trivandrum; Here's how India plans to counter China-Pak threats

[VinodTK]

Six service chiefs back military theatre commands

New Delhi: India has taken a firm step towards the creation of military theatre commands by achieving a consensus between the chiefs of the three services, first in April, and then again in October (all three services got new chiefs in the intervening months), and the chief of defence staff (CDS) in favour of integrated formations and communications and the optimum utilization of resources, according to people familiar with the matter.

HT learns that the military theatre commands plan is ready and will be soon put up before the apex political leadership for approval. The first firm step towards theatre commands was taken on May 10 when the government notified the Inter-Services Organizations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act aimed at achieving synergy amongst the three services.

Rather than impose the military theatre commands on the three services, the government, through CDS Gen Anil Chauhan has adopted a bottom-up approach by discussing the entire proposal at every level of the services. The country will have three commands centered on the military threat from the West, North and in the maritime domain, which includes the island territories.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and national security planners have been briefed about the recommendations of the CDS on military theatre commands, the people cited above added. They explained that India’s plan is granular , and that the services have agreed to centralise communications, intelligence, cyber-security and logistics. The three services currently operate on separate communication networks – this meant a higher resonse time as everything had to go through the respective service’s headquarters in Delhi. Nor was there a seamless sharing of intelligence between the services with the army, navy and air force working purely on a need-to-know basis.

Experts have long held that theatre commands are the future. The P-5 countries all have theatre command structures, and India cannot afford to have its armed forces working in silos and on security architecture based on the past, they add. The most important outcome of theatre commands will be rationalisation of costly military resources and integration of platforms. The government is also keen on the Indian armed forces cutting down on ceremonial events and crafting battle strategies that are suited to regional context rather than blindly aping western tactics.

The three military theatre commanders will be equivalent in rank to the three service chiefs and will directly report to the Defence Minister via CDS for operational purposes. This will also ensure that the Defence Minister is abreast with developments on the border and at sea and up to date on operational matters as is the case in the P-5 countries.

With the three chiefs agreeing to military reforms in favor of theatre commands, the ball is in the court of the political leadership on when the new security architecture will be unveiled.

HindustanTimes.com

[ramana]

"The three military theatre commanders will be equivalent in rank to the three service chiefs and will directly report to the Defence Minister via CDS for operational purposes. This will also ensure that the Defence Minister is abreast with developments on the border and at sea and up to date on operational matters as is the case in the P-5 countries.'

This is severe upgrading the rank of the theater commands to the level of the service chiefs and quite uncalled for in case of India.
The US theaters are vast continents and not a region of India.

Even China's Western Theater command area of responsibility is huge.

Looks like the political leadership is forced to accept this perk to enable theater commands.
Which have successfully been stalled for 24 years.
In case any one forgets Theater Commands were proposed by the KRC report formed after 199 Kargil War.

[ramana]

The contrary argument is the theater commanders can't afford to be bossed by service chiefs while they are fighting the enemy.
In fact Lt Gen Harbaksh Singh ignored Gen Chaudhri 's order to evacuate in 1965 as that would leave Amritsar defenceless.

I'm 1971 Lt Gen Sagat Singh saw the opportunity to capture Dacca and end the war and he did it despite orders from Delhi.

Future commanders might not be so bold.

Hence I agree it's more urgent to get the theater commands setup with appropriate authority to suit Indian conditions.
We shouldn't forget NSA Doval had to be given Cabinet rank in 2019 to deal with the Byzantine ways of Indian babucracy.
One general wrote that by 1955 Indian military had been transformed into a bureaucracy where seniority and branch matter.
So I take back my objections not that they matter!

[VinodTK]

Rajnath to get final integrated theater command file soon

[ShauryaT]

This is severe upgrading the rank of the theater commands to the level of the service chiefs and quite uncalled for in case of India.
The US theaters are vast continents and not a region of India.

Even China's Western Theater command area of responsibility is huge.

Looks like the political leadership is forced to accept this perk to enable theater commands.
Which have successfully been stalled for 24 years.
In case any one forgets Theater Commands were proposed by the KRC report formed after 199 Kargil War.

I think it is good to have this upgrade and have a direct connection between political and military operations. At the end of the day, executive decisions have to be vested in political authority, which I feel is the real achilles heal in our security setup, both in its non-specialized bureaucracy and largely non-interested in security affairs political masters.

[VinodTK]

The Print: Future Warfare Fund set up within the armed forces: Parliamentary panel on defence

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The ministry has also apprised the panel that theaterisation being a trailblazing reform, a large number of complex issues which have a direct bearing on the proposed force structure require to be “addressed comprehensively”.

The ‘Seventh Report on Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Defence for the year 2025-26 on General Defence Budget, Border Roads Organisation, Indian Coast Guard, Defence Estates Organisation, Welfare of Ex-Servicemen and Defence Research and Development Organisation (Demand Nos. 19, 20 and 21)’, was presented in Parliament on Monday.

The total outlay for the Ministry of Defence for Budget Estimates 2025-26 is Rs 6,81,210.27 crore and amounts to approximately 13.45 per cent of the total expenditure of the Government of India (Rs 50.65 lakh crore), which is the highest among ministries.

The committee, in its report, said that it has learned from the ministry’s submission that a Future Warfare Fund has also been set up within the armed forces. A Future Analysis Group, for studying future technologies and their impact, is also proposed to be set up.
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The ministry has further submitted that the integrated theatre commands will facilitate better coordination and integrated application of force which will enhance operational efficiency and optimise resource utilisation, the report said.

“It would also aid in the creation and integration of new war-fighting capabilities and faster assimilation of future technology and tactics. The concept of theaterisation seeks to mitigate the shortcomings of single service operations and support modern warfighting,” the panel added.

The committee said it has desired to be apprised about the strategic operational preparedness of the defence forces in view of the present security scenario and conceived threat perception.
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[vsunder]

Operation Sindoor is unique in the sense it has been prosecuted with a CDS in charge to advise the political establishment for the first time in the history of modern India. How did this work out? Furthermore there was already a process of transitioning to theater commands. There was a Western theater which was located at Jaipur and ranks upto Brigadier level and appropriate equivalent ranks from the Air Force that had moved to Jaipur preparatory to making the theaters operational. Most importantly there was an Air Defence Command with assets taken from all services What role did this new theatre have in the success of air defence operations in the current war? This year was the year of Defence Reforms as stated by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh to implement Theatre commands. The implementation seems to be in an advanced stage with the Air Force being the main laggard and not being fully on board. What lessons were learned from Sindoor? Esp. since this was an Air war, was the Air force correct in its objections and how will it affect going forward? Will there be now more delays with setting up the theatre commands based on perceived shortcomings in this current war or will the war be perceived as an outstanding success even with the stage of partial transition to theater commands esp. with the Air Defence command? The following months will be very interesting to observe the effects of the war on the the setting up of the operational theatre commands.

[Hriday]

See the press information bureau news screenshot in the link.
https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/1927 ... TQ_tQ&s=19

Government has notified the Rules under Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control & Discipline) Act 2023. This marks the full operationalisation of the Act, empowering Commanders-in-Chief and Officers-in-Command of ISOs with authority over personnel from all three services under their command.

It ensures effective discipline, streamlined administration, and enhanced jointness—without altering individual service conditions.

Another explanation,
https://x.com/Neetivaan/status/19276087 ... mTxFw&s=19

For those who are confused, here's easy explanation:

> Army officers can give orders to all Army, Air Force, Navy and soldiers have to follow orders.

> Naval officers can give orders to all Army, Air Force, Navy and soldiers have to follow orders.

> AF officers can give orders to all Army, Air Force, Navy and soldiers have to follow orders.

A true step in Jointness among Tri-Services.

[VinodTK]

^^^^ From Devdiscourse
Rules Under Inter-Services Organisations Act Now in Force to Boost Jointness

India’s Armed Forces, the Government of India has officially notified the Rules under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023. These Rules, published via Gazette Notification, came into effect from May 27, 2025, marking the full operationalization of the Act and a transformative step in fostering greater integration and efficiency within the military establishment.

Legislative Journey and Timeline
The Inter-Services Organisations Act, 2023, was passed during the Monsoon Session of Parliament in 2023, underscoring the government’s resolve to establish a clear and unified chain of command across the tri-services framework. The legislation:

Received Presidential assent on August 15, 2023
Came into force on May 10, 2024, as per Gazette Notification dated May 08, 2024
Formally recognized Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) through Notification No. SRO 72 on December 27, 2024

The recently notified Rules under Section 11 of the Act complete the legislative and regulatory architecture, enabling the practical implementation of the law across all designated ISOs.
Purpose and Scope of the Act

The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023, is designed to facilitate efficient functioning, seamless coordination, and disciplinary harmony across military units that operate under an inter-services command structure. The Act specifically empowers:
Commanders-in-Chief andOfficers-in-Command of ISOs to exercise disciplinary authority over service personnel of all branches of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force) assigned to their command. This enables the streamlined administration of justice, expedites case resolutions, and prevents duplication of proceedings, while preserving the unique service conditions of each military wing.

Key Features of the Notified Rules
The newly framed Rules are integral to implementing the Act effectively. Their highlights include:
Procedures for disciplinary actions and administrative redressal mechanisms within ISOs
Defined jurisdictional authority for commanders of inter-services establishments Frameworks for integrated decision-making, ensuring functional and legal clarity Mechanisms for reporting, appeals, and oversight in line with the military justice system Safeguards to ensure no infringement of service-specific entitlements or legal rights These Rules not only operationalize the provisions of the Act but also lay the foundational principles for a unified chain of command, enhancing overall coordination and operational readiness.

Strengthening Jointness and Operational Synergy

The activation of this legal framework will have a profound impact on the functioning of key tri-service institutions such as:
Integrated Defence Staff (IDS)
Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC)
Defence Cyber Agency
Defence Space Agency
Defence Intelligence Agency

These organisations, comprising personnel from all three services, will now benefit from a clear legal and administrative hierarchy, removing ambiguities and delays in the chain of command.
This is particularly significant in the context of India’s evolving defence doctrine, which emphasizes jointness, theaterisation, and multi-domain operations. The Act and its supporting Rules are thus crucial enablers in the creation of joint theatre commands, which are currently under active consideration.

Benefits and Long-Term Impact
The implementation of the Inter-Services Organisations Act and its Rules is expected to:
Accelerate the unification of command structures
Promote accountability and quick disciplinary action
Enhance administrative coherence and legal clarity
Reduce inter-service frictions in joint organisations
Strengthen India’s ability to respond to multi-domain threats

Most importantly, this will foster a culture of seamless coordination, laying the groundwork for a modernized and agile Indian military capable of tackling emerging global and regional security challenges.

The full operationalization of the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023, is a milestone in India's military reforms. By empowering ISO leadership with the legal tools necessary for effective command and discipline, the Act not only enhances internal efficiency but also supports the broader strategic goals of jointness, readiness, and integration.

With these Rules in place, India takes a decisive step toward building a more unified, responsive, and modern defence force, aligned with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and global security leadership.

[drnayar]

So a Indian army corps commander can call in a air strike starightaway without going through another chain of command ?

[pravula]

Thats the plan