Theatre commands now an 'operational urgency', but rollout must be phased, says expert

General NS Raja Subramani's expected presentation on India's long-awaited theatre commands to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh later this month has renewed focus on one of the country's biggest military reforms.

Defence experts say the proposal has now moved beyond the conceptual stage, but its implementation will need to be carefully planned.

The new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is expected to brief the defence minister on the roadmap for implementing integrated theatre commands. Once approved by the minister, it is expected to be placed before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final approval.

Speaking to Firstpost, former Head of the Territorial Army, Maj Gen AK Siwach (Retd), said theatre commands have become an operational necessity for India. However, he cautioned that while the reform should not be delayed indefinitely, its execution must be gradual and professionally managed to avoid operational gaps.

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'Operational urgency' for modern warfare

According to Maj Gen Siwach, today's security environment demands closer coordination among the Army, Navy and Air Force. He said India faces simultaneous challenges along its northern border with China, its western border with Pakistan and across the maritime domain, making integrated military operations increasingly important.

He said the current system, where each service operates through separate command structures, can slow decision-making during crises. Integrated theatre commands, on the other hand, would allow a single commander to direct Army, Navy and Air Force assets in a particular theatre, ensuring faster and more coordinated responses.

The retired officer also pointed to recent conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, where drones, precision missiles, cyber capabilities and electronic warfare have highlighted the importance of joint operations across military services.

Better use of military resources

Maj Gen Siwach said integrated commands would also help India make better use of its military resources.

According to him, combining logistics, intelligence, planning and administrative systems would reduce duplication and allow commanders to deploy available assets more efficiently based on operational requirements.

He added that many leading militaries, including those of the United States and China, have already adopted integrated theatre command structures. Without similar reforms, India risks falling behind in joint combat readiness and information sharing, he said.

The proposed structure for India includes a Northern Theatre Command focused on China, a Western Theatre Command facing Pakistan and a Maritime Theatre Command, which would include the Andaman and Nicobar Command.

Reform requires careful execution

While backing the reform, Maj Gen Siwach said implementation must be phased and carefully managed.

One of the major concerns raised during discussions has been by the Indian Air Force, which has argued that its relatively limited number of aircraft should not be permanently divided into rigid geographical commands, as that could affect operational flexibility.

He also said that shifting from decades of service-specific functioning to an integrated structure would require significant changes in military doctrine, communications systems, training methods and organisational culture.

According to him, rushing the transition without adequate preparation could create operational vulnerabilities or command confusion during a crisis.

Reform enters practical stage

Maj Gen Siwach said the upcoming presentation by General NS Raja Subramani indicates that theatre commands have moved beyond the theoretical stage and are now approaching implementation.

He argued that the debate should no longer be framed as a choice between urgency and caution. Instead, India should move ahead with the overall reform while ensuring that the transfer of assets, responsibilities and command authority takes place in a phased and professional manner.

If approved by the government, integrated theatre commands would mark the most significant restructuring of India's higher defence organisation since Independence, fundamentally changing how the Army, Navy and Air Force plan and conduct military operations together.