Latest news with #Inter-ServicesOrganisations(Command
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt activates theatre command: What we know about the tri-service integration that can make armed forces more deadly
India has taken a key step towards implementing integrated theatre commands by notifying rules under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023. These rules grant military commanders full administrative and disciplinary powers over personnel across the Army, Navy, and Air Force serving under joint commands. This move aims to strengthen jointness, command efficiency, and operational synergy among the armed forces. The reforms come amid ongoing efforts to unify India's military forces under theatre commands for coordinated warfighting. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What are Theatre Commands? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The rules that empower joint command Theatre Commands: The strategic need and challenges Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Leadership structure and future outlook India has notified crucial rules under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023, empowering commanders of tri-service organisations—and future theatre commands—with full authority over personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force serving under them. The rules, effective from Tuesday, mark a significant milestone in India's long-pending plan to integrate its three military services for more effective joint Defence Ministry said, 'This significant step aims to bolster effective command, control and efficient functioning of inter-services organisations (ISOs), thereby strengthening jointness among the armed forces.'These developments come nearly four years after the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post and the establishment of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), which were early moves towards integrating the military services under a unified warfighting idea behind theatre commands is to move away from the existing fragmented structure—where the Army, Navy, and Air Force operate largely independently within their own commands—to a system where units from all three services operate together under a single theatre commander for specific geographical or functional theatres. This approach is meant to improve operational efficiency, reduce duplication, and rationalise India has 19 commands across the three services: seven each for the Army and Air Force, and three for the Navy. Only two tri-service commands exist—the Andaman and Nicobar Command and the Strategic Forces Command. The proposed theatre commands aim to reorganise and subsume several of these commands into three main theatres: one facing Pakistan in the west, another facing China in the north, and a maritime theatre covering the Indian Ocean to reports, the western theatre command may be headquartered in Jaipur, the northern theatre command in Lucknow, and the maritime command possibly in recently notified rules under the ISO Act grant the commanders-in-chief and officers-in-command of ISOs full administrative and disciplinary powers over personnel under their command, without altering the unique service conditions of each branch. The Defence Ministry stated, 'With the notification of these rules, the Act is now fully operational. This will empower the heads of the ISOs, enable the expeditious disposal of disciplinary cases, and help avoid the duplication of proceedings.'The ISO Act was passed by Parliament in 2023 and came into effect from May 10 this year. It replaces parts of the Army Act, Navy Act, and Air Force Act as they pertain to ISOs, thereby creating a clear legal framework for joint military operations India's northern and western borders pose complex and evolving threats. In any future conflict, more than five military commands might need to work together. The RAND Corporation notes that future wars will involve all dimensions of warfare, including cyber operations. Theatre commands offer a way to integrate resources for a unified, efficient warfighting the clear strategic benefits, implementation has been slow. Differences between the services remain over the shape, scope, and control of theatre commands. The Air Force, for instance, resisted the idea of an Air Defence Command due to limited squadron strength and concerns about dividing its air current plan, reportedly close to consensus, foresees three theatre commands headed by three-star officers, with roles clearly defined: the service chiefs will handle raising, training, and sustaining forces, while theatre commanders will be responsible for the full theatre commands await government approval, the military has taken steps towards integration. Officers are being cross-posted across services to build joint understanding. Mumbai is planned to become the first tri-service common defence station, and joint logistics nodes are being established nationwide to streamline supply chains and planned theatre commands will also rationalise logistics and infrastructure, eliminating redundancies and improving operational the proposed system, the three theatre commanders—likely generals or equivalent—will report to a National Defence Committee, probably headed by the Defence Minister. Additional posts such as Vice CDS and Deputy CDS are being considered to oversee strategic planning, procurement, operations, and none of these plans have received final government approval. The timing of implementation could depend on political developments and further has made meaningful progress towards a unified military command structure by empowering commanders through the ISO Act and its rules. Theatre commands promise to transform India's defence forces into a more agile and coordinated fighting force. Yet, challenges persist—from institutional resistance to doctrinal the Defence Ministry noted, these reforms are 'necessary to strengthen the armed forces in view of the global security scenario.' The coming months and years will reveal how quickly India can move from planning to fully operational integrated theatre commands.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Govt notifies rules to strengthen Armed Forces' joint command
New Delhi: The Centre government has notified the rules under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act 2023, which enable greater jointness and Command efficiency in the Armed Forces. The rules formulated under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act 2023 have been notified through a gazette notification and have come into effect from May 27. In a media release on Wednesday, the government said this significant step aims to bolster the effective command, control, and efficient functioning of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs), thereby strengthening jointness among the Armed Forces. The Bill for this was passed by both Houses -- Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha -- of Parliament during the Monsoon Session of 2023. It received the assent of the President on August 15, 2023, and the Act came into force with effect from May 10, 2024, as per the Gazette Notification dated May 08, 2024. Subsequently, the ISOs were notified through Gazette Notification No. SRO 72 dated December 27, 2024. The Act empowers the Commanders-in-Chief and Officers-in-Command of the ISOs to exercise command and control over the service personnel serving under them, ensuring effective maintenance of discipline and administration within the organisations. This is achieved without altering the unique service conditions applicable to each branch of the Armed Forces. The newly notified subordinate Rules, framed under Section 11 of the Act, are intended to facilitate the effective implementation of the provisions laid down in the legislation. These Rules are a critical enabler for the functioning of the ISOs and establish a comprehensive framework for discipline, administrative control, and operational synergy. With the notification of these Rules, the Act is now fully operational. This will empower the heads of the ISOs, enable the expeditious disposal of disciplinary cases, and help avoid the duplication of proceedings.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
New rules to fast-track joint services commands
India has notified new rules under an overarching law to boost jointness, command efficiency and operational synergy in the armed forces at a critical moment when they are charting a path towards theaterisation --- a long-awaited reform for the best use of the military's resources to fight future wars, weeks after the May 7-10 clash with Pakistan that saw the three services work jointly for best battle outcomes. The government notified the rules under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023 in the Gazette of India on May 27, signalling its intent to fast-track the setting up of joint services commands --- a key goal of the ongoing theaterisation drive. Such commands will consist of military elements, assets, and personnel drawn from the three services and placed under a commander-in-chief. 'This significant step aims to bolster command, control, and efficient functioning of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs), thereby strengthening jointness among the armed forces,' the defence ministry said on Wednesday. Jointness among the three services is an essential prerequisite to the creation of theatre commands and was in focus during Operation Sindoor --- New Delhi's direct military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. It led to a four-day confrontation that showcased the Indian military's synergy. The moves comes a year after the Act was notified in the gazette, empowering the government to set up ISOs --- including joint services commands --- and bestowing powers on the heads of such organisations to exercise command and control over the tri-services personnel serving under them to ensure discipline and effective discharge of duties. Such personnel were earlier governed by the respective laws of the three services: the Army Act, 1950, the Air Force Act, 1950, and the Navy Act, 1957. 'The rules (notified) are a critical enabler for the functioning of ISOs and establish a comprehensive framework for discipline, administrative control, and operational synergy,' the defence ministry said in a statement. The setting up of theatre commands for integrated application of force, operational efficiency, and optimal resource utilisation is among the nine areas identified by the defence ministry for focused intervention in 2025, which the ministry has declared as the 'year of reforms.' Other areas include building indigenous capabilities to strengthen the armed forces, simplifying acquisition procedures for swifter capability development and new domains such as cyber and space. Defence minister Rajnath Singh is conducting a quarterly review of the defence reforms --- including theaterisation --- being driven by the government to boost the armed forces' combat readiness. The theaterisation model being pursued involves raising the China-centric northern theatre command in Lucknow, the Pakistan-centric western theatre command in Jaipur, and the maritime theatre command in Thiruvananthapuram. The earlier legal framework of the armed forces had its limitations when it came to tri-services matters as officers of one service lacked the authority to exercise disciplinary and administrative powers over personnel belonging to another service. For instance, a three-star general heading a joint command could not act against air force or navy personnel serving under him. The lack of such powers had a direct impact on command, control and discipline, officials aware of the matter said. 'With the notification of these rules, the Act is now fully operational. This will empower the heads of ISOs, enable the expeditious disposal of disciplinary cases, and help avoid the duplication of proceedings,' the defence ministry said. The actions of the three services during the May7-10 military confrontation with Pakistan reflected the synergy of the country's armed forces, the information and broadcasting ministry said on May 18, in a backgrounder titled Operation Sindoor: Forging One Force. 'The operation unfolded across land, air, and sea --- a seamless demonstration of synergy between the army, air force and navy,' the I&B ministry said at the time. It added that efforts were underway to restructure forces through the setting up of integrated theatre commands by unifying the capabilities of the three services based on geography and function. Operation Sindoor triggered four days of strikes and counterstrikes with fighter jets, missiles, drones, long-range weapons and heavy artillery before the Indian and Pakistani forces reached an understanding on stopping all military action on May 10. Between the launch of the operation in the early hours of May 7 and the ceasefire, Indian forces bombed nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), killing at least 100 terrorists, and the Indian Air Force (IAF) struck targets at 13 Pakistani airbases and military installations. The IAF struck two terror sites at Markaz Subhanallah in Bahawalpur and Markaz Taiba near Muridke, while the army hit targets at seven places including Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot, Sawai Nala and Syed Na Bilal in Muzaffarabad, Gulpur and Abbas in Kotli, Barnala in Bhimber, and Sarjal. The IAF also struck military targets in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Pasrur, Sialkot, Skardu, Sargodha, Jacobabad, Bholari and Malir Cantt in Karachi. The navy played a critical role during the operation. The forward presence of aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in the northern Arabian Sea, along with its Mig-29K fighters and airborne early warning helicopters, prevented hostile aircraft from coming within several hundred kms of the carrier battle group. 'It compelled the Pakistani air elements to remain bottled up close to the Makran coast, with the Indian Navy denying the enemy any opportunity to be a threat in the maritime space,' a top navy official earlier said. In March, the defence ministry told a parliamentary panel that a raft of complex issues must be addressed before rolling out integrated theatre commands as they have a direct bearing on the proposed force structure, calling it 'a trailblazing reform.' The ministry's response to a pointed question on theaterisation was part of a report tabled by the standing committee on defence in Parliament. 'Deliberations on reorganising the armed forces into integrated theatre commands are in progress and currently being examined at various levels before finalisation of an optimal organisational structure to meet the operational requirements,' the report said. The joint structures would help create and integrate new war-fighting capabilities along with faster assimilation of future technology and tactics, it said. 'The concept of theaterisation seeks to mitigate the shortcomings of single service operations and support modern war fighting,' the report added. The chief of defence staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan is heading the theaterisation drive. The appointment of a CDS was one of the most significant recommendations made by the K Subrahmanyam-led Kargil Review Committee (KRC) that was constituted after the 1999 Kargil war to examine various lapses and suggest measures to boost national security. In 2000, the KRC recommended appointing a CDS to provide single-point military advice to the government and foster synergy in warfighting. A year later, a group of ministers backed the appointment of a CDS, who would bring about much needed jointness among the three services and prioritise defence planning. The need for a CDS was stressed by several committees and parliamentary panels between 2002 and 2016. But successive governments were unable to build political consensus around a CDS until Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the post on August 15, 2019. General Bipin Rawat was appointed the country's first CDS on December 31, 2019. He was killed in a helicopter crash on December 8, 2021.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Government notifies rules for tri-Service commanders
NEW DELHI: Government has notified the rules that empower military commanders of all existing tri-Service organisations, and future chiefs of the long-pending theatre commands, with full administrative and disciplinary powers over Army, Navy and IAF personnel serving under them. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The rules formulated under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023, came into effect on Tuesday. "This significant step aims to bolster effective command, control and efficient functioning of inter-services organisations (ISOs), thereby strengthening jointness among the armed forces," the defence ministry said. The ISO Act itself came into force with effect from May 10 last year after the bill was passed by Parliament during the monsoon session in 2023. It will also be an enabler for the creation of the planned integrated theatre commands for a joint war-fighting machinery in a cost-effective manner.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt notifies rules to power unified military command weeks after Operation Sindoor
Weeks after the armed forces acted in synergy to punish cross-border terrorism under the 'Operation Sindoor', the government has notified new rules that will further bolster joint command and control, and increase the efficiency of cross services. The government has notified rules under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act that will empower the heads of Inter Services Organisations (ISOs) to take charge of soldiers and enforce discipline, regardless of which service they belong to. Officials said that the Act is now fully operational with the notification of the rules on Tuesday and will "enable the expeditious disposal of disciplinary cases and help avoid the duplication of proceedings". "This significant step aims to bolster effective command, control, and efficient functioning of Inter-Services Organisations, thereby strengthening jointness among the armed forces," officials said. The bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament during the monsoon session of 2023 and came into force with effect from May 2024. Live Events The newly notified rules, framed under Section 11 of the Act, will facilitate effective implementation of the provisions laid down in the legislation and are a critical enabler for the functioning of the ISOs. In the past, commanding officers did not have administrative powers of soldiers from a different service, even though they were part of the same unit. For example, in previous joint services setup, an Army soldier commanded by a Navy officer would have to be sent back to his parent unit for disciplinary proceedings. The Navy officer also did not have administrative powers over the said soldier. As the government is moving towards creation of joint theatre commands - new formations that will include units from the Army, Air Force and Navy under a single military authority, based either on geographic location or function - the Act was required to maintain operational efficiency. It also empowers the central government to constitute an ISO, like the upcoming theatre commands.
