India’s Push for Jointness: From Service Silos to Integrated Theatre Commands

Why in the News?

1. India is intensifying military reforms to respond to multi-domain threats driven by AI, automation, drones, and precision weapons, requiring faster and more integrated operations.
2. Recent policy moves — creation of tri-service agencies, new modular combat units (e.g., Rudra, Bhairav), and emphasis on theatre commands and joint professional military education (PME) — show accelerated efforts to build true jointness.

Key Highlights

1. Strategic Context: a changing character of war
   1. Modern conflict is becoming cheaper and faster because of technologies such as AI, drones, automation, and cheap precision munitions.
   2. India faces a two-front threat and must prepare for multi-domain operations where information superiority and speed are as decisive as firepower.
   3. These changes demand reforms in structure, doctrine, technology, force composition, PME, and readiness.
2. From coordination to command: organisational reforms
   1. The government and Ministry of Defence are shifting focus from mere service coordination to empowered command structures.
   2. The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Rules, 2025 seek to give commanders administrative and disciplinary authority needed for joint action.
   3. Tri-service agencies have been created under HQ Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) for cyber, space, and special operations, demonstrating structural moves toward joint functioning.
3. New battle formations and capability mix
   1. Modular formations such as Rudra and Bhairav blend infantry, artillery, armour, air defence, engineers, and surveillance into mission-specific combat groups for rapid deployment.
   2. The Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) concept aims to field all-arms brigades with 12–48 hour deployability, combining conventional and unmanned systems.
   3. Naval and air acquisitions — Rafale-M, MQ-9B drones — strengthen tri-service ISR, strike, and fleet air defence
4. Doctrine, PME and technology for future warfare
   1. Foundational doctrines (Joint Doctrine 2017; Army Land Warfare Doctrine 2018) provide a template but doctrinal evolution is needed to address hybrid, multi-domain wars from the outset.
   2. Ran Samvad and similar forums highlight the need for “hybrid warriors” — personnel skilled in scholarship, technology, and information operations.
   3. Digital command-and-control networks like Akashteer and integration with IACCS demonstrate steps toward shared data standards and automated responses.

Implications

1. Operational Readiness – Faster decisions, improved responsiveness; lack of jointness risks vulnerability against adversaries with theatre commands.
2. Force Modernisation – Focus on interoperable, modular systems; greater role of indigenous R&D and private sector.
3. Doctrinal Shift – Move PME from single-service to tri-service, emphasising AI, cyber, space; build technologist-commanders.
4. Strategic Signalling – Reforms like IBGs show deterrence and adaptability; influence neighbours’ military planning.
5. Cultural Change – Overcoming service silos needs joint accountability, clear metrics, and learning-oriented reforms.

Key Terms

1. Theatre Command
   1. A command structure that integrates forces from all services under a single commander for operations in a defined geographic area.
   2. Provides unified operational control, faster decision-making, and simplified logistics.
   3. Requires joint staff, shared intelligence, and common operational doctrine.
   4. Successfully employed by several militaries to reduce inter-service friction.
2. Professional Military Education (PME)
   1. Formal military education to develop officers’ strategic, operational, and technical competencies.
   2. Joint PME focuses on inter-service doctrine, multi-domain operations, and technology literacy.
   3. Critical to develop technologist-commanders who can lead data-driven campaigns.
   4. Bridges the gap between academic knowledge and operational application.
3. Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)
   1. Concept of integrated operations across land, sea, air, space, cyber and information domains.
   2. Emphasises synchronized effects, rapid tempo, and cross-domain deterrence.
   3. Relies on shared situational awareness, common data fabrics and resilient C2.
   4. Makes information superiority and speed decisive factors.
   5. Necessitates doctrinal evolution and technology-enabled forces.

Challenges and Way Forward

Conclusion

India’s security environment demands speed, integration, and technological edge. Incremental changes have begun, but operational theatre commands, joint PME, interoperable systems, and civil-military fusion must be implemented rapidly and rigorously. Only an adaptive, jointly educated and technologically embedded military will be able to meet the multi-domain challenges of the coming decades.