Integrated Theatre Commands | UPSC Prep

Introduction

• India, home to one of the world’s most powerful and disciplined militaries, has a formidable strength of approximately 1.4 million personnel across its Army, Navy, and Air Force. 
• However, despite this impressive capability, the country lacks a unified apex-level structure to manage and integrate its military resources effectively during conflicts and ensure cohesive civil-military coordination during peacetime. 
• The concept of Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs) has emerged as a critical reform to address this structural gap, aiming to streamline military operations and foster operational synergy among the three services.

What is an Integrated Theatre Command (ITC)?

• Integrated Theatre Commands are designed to bring together the operational capabilities of the Army, Navy, and Air Force under a single unified command. 
• The primary objective is to ensure optimal utilization of resources and seamless coordination during operations and conflicts.

Types of Theatre Commands

• Integrated Theatre Commands can be structured in two ways:
  • Geographical Commands: Focused on specific regions or “areas of responsibility,” they address region-specific threats and ensure tailored military strategies.
  • Functional Commands: Established with a mission-oriented approach, such as air defense or strategic deterrence, cutting across geographical boundaries.

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Global Practices in Theatre Command Structures

• Theatre commands are widely adopted by leading military powers to enhance operational efficiency:
  • United States: Operates 11 Unified Combatant Commands, which are divided into geographical and functional roles to address diverse global challenges.
  • China: The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) employs a theatre command system, with its Western Theatre Command managing its border with India.
  • Russia: It employs a theatre command system divided into five military districts, integrating land, air, and naval forces: 
  • France: It has adopted functional theatre commands to focus on specific operational needs. 

India’s Current Command Structure

• India’s existing military command structure is fragmented, comprising both single-service and limited tri-service commands:
• Single-Service Commands: India operates 17 single-service commands:
  • Army: 7 commands, including Northern, Eastern, and Southern Commands.
  • Air Force: 7 commands, such as Western, Central, and Training Commands.
  • Navy: 3 commands—Western, Eastern, and Southern Naval Commands.
• Tri-Service Commands: India currently has two tri-service commands:
• • Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC): Established in 2001, this is India’s only fully operational tri-service command, responsible for safeguarding the strategic Indian Ocean region.
  • Strategic Forces Command (SFC): A functional command that was established in 2003 and is responsible for India’s nuclear weapons. 
• While these commands have their strengths, the lack of a unified structure limits India’s ability to address complex, multi-dimensional threats effectively.

Key Recommendations for ITCs

• Over the years, several high-profile committees have stressed the importance of ITCs for India’s defence modernization:
  • Kargil Review Committee: Highlighted the need for unified command structures after the 1999 Kargil conflict.
  • Naresh Chandra Committee (2012): Recommended creating tri-service roles to enhance strategic coordination.
  • Shekatkar Committee (2016): Proposed establishing ITCs to streamline military operations and optimize resource utilization.

Steps Taken by the Government

• Recognizing the importance of ITCs, the government has initiated several measures to move closer to this transformative reform:
• Appointment of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): Introduced in 2019, the CDS is responsible for enhancing jointness among the three services. The CDS also heads the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), a key step toward institutionalizing integration.
• Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control, and Discipline) Act, 2023: The ISO Act empowers military commanders of existing tri-service organizations with full administrative and disciplinary powers over personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force serving under them. This consolidation aims to streamline command and control structures, enhancing synergy in planning, logistics, and operations.

• Proposal for a National Defence Committee: A national-level committee, likely chaired by the Defence Minister, has been proposed to oversee theatre commands and ensure strategic alignment at the highest level.

Proposed Organizational Structure for Integrated Theatre Commands

• The envisioned ITC structure aims to streamline command and operational efficiency while addressing India’s diverse security challenges.
• Key Appointments: 
  • Vice Chief of Defence Staff (Vice CDS): To be an officer of the rank of General or equivalent. Responsible for strategic planning, capability development, and procurement-related functions.
  • Deputy CDS: An officer of the rank of Lieutenant General or equivalent. Tasked with overseeing operations, intelligence, and coordination of assets between theatres.
• Proposed Theatre Commands:
  • Pakistan Theatre Command: Focused on addressing threats from Pakistan.
  • China Theatre Command: Dedicated to countering challenges along the Chinese border.
  • Maritime Theatre Command: Responsible for managing maritime threats beyond India’s coastal borders.
• Role of Service Chiefs: The three service chiefs will retain responsibility for:
  • Raising, training, and sustaining their respective services.
  • Supporting theatre commands without additional manpower recruitment, as adjustments will be made within existing structures.

Benefits of Integrated Theatre Commands

• Improved Efficiency: Rationalizes resource allocation and ensures a coordinated approach to counter threats.
  • Example: The Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) of the United States integrates its naval, air, and ground forces to address diverse challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, enabling rapid deployment during crises like the tensions in the South China Sea.
  • Impact in India: A unified theatre command could have ensured faster coordination during events like the 2017 Doklam standoff, where inter-service communication delays were observed. 
• Streamlined Command Structure: Replaces the current uneven structure, where the Army and Air Force each have seven commands, and the Navy has three.
  • Current Issue: In the absence of ITCs, managing joint operations involves complex coordination between separate commands. For instance, during the Kargil War (1999), the lack of coordination between the services led to delays in executing air strikes.
  • Proposed Solution: A streamlined command system under ITCs will eliminate such inefficiencies by consolidating decision-making under one unified leadership. 
• Enhanced Response to Chinese Threats: Mirrors China’s Western Theatre Command, which oversees its border with India, by enabling India to consolidate its fragmented commands for better strategic responses.
  • Example: During the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, India’s fragmented command structure required extensive coordination between the Northern and Eastern Army Commands, leading to delayed responses.
  •  ITC Advantage: With a dedicated China-focused theatre command, India can adopt a centralized approach, mirroring China’s strategy, for faster and more effective responses.
• Cost-Effectiveness in the Long Run: While the initial setup might increase costs due to equipping theatres with necessary systems, unified acquisitions will reduce expenses over time.
  • A report by the Shekatkar Committee (2016) highlighted that integrating logistics and procurement could save India an estimated ₹25,000 crores annually through optimized resource utilization.
• Operational Autonomy: Theatre commanders will have the freedom to train, equip, and deploy forces without being answerable to individual services, enabling a cohesive and focused approach to achieving designated goals.
  • With autonomy, theatre commanders could better coordinate operations during complex scenarios, such as humanitarian aid missions post the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, where a unified approach could have expedited relief efforts. 

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Challenges in Implementing Integrated Theatre Commands

• Inter-Service Rivalry: Differences in priorities and a focus on individual assets can hinder the synergy required for ITCs. 
  • During the Kargil War (1999), the absence of integrated command structures resulted in coordination challenges between the Army and Air Force. The Air Force initially hesitated to deploy fighter jets due to the lack of clarity in operational plans, leading to delays in providing critical air support. This highlighted the need for unified operational planning to ensure timely responses. 
• High Initial Costs: Developing infrastructure and systems for ITCs demands significant investment. The initial costs for equipping theatre commands with modern communication systems, weapons, and logistics could reach ₹1.5 lakh crore according to defense experts. 
• Cultural Differences Among Services: The Army’s regimental traditions, Navy’s operational independence, and Air Force’s strategic outlook create challenges in unifying service cultures. 
  • Example: During joint operations like the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) mission in Sri Lanka, differences in service approaches created operational challenges.
• Perceived Army Dominance: The Army currently commands 7 of the 17 single-service commands, significantly outnumbering the Navy and Air Force, which could translate into greater control in ITCs. 
• Logistical and Infrastructure Coordination: Synchronizing resources across services is a complex and resource-intensive process.
  •  For instance, during the 2016 Pathankot Air Base attack, the lack of a unified logistics framework delayed the coordination of reinforcements and supplies, underscoring the need for an integrated approach to streamline operations and enhance response times.
• Absence of a National Security Strategy (NSS): India’s defense planning often lacks a comprehensive long-term strategy, unlike countries like China and the United States, which have well-documented security doctrines guiding their military reforms. Critics argue that implementing ITCs without a coherent NSS may lead to strategic misalignments.

Way Forward

• Developing a Supportive Ecosystem: Prioritize indigenous development of technology and hardware to reduce dependence on arms imports.
• Balancing Internal and External Security: Assess how ITCs will manage responsibilities alongside the paramilitary forces and Coast Guard.
• Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight: Establish a dedicated Standing Committee of Parliament with military advisors to oversee and monitor the transition process.
• Geography-Based Theatres: Consider creating Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western theatre commands to address threats based on geographical proximity while leveraging all domains—land, sea, air, space, and cyber.
• Merit-Based Appointments: Ensure that theatre commanders are selected based on expertise in joint operations rather than service affiliations.
• Budget Clarity: Allocate and distribute funds transparently to support the establishment and functioning of ITCs seamlessly.
• Modular Armed Forces Structure: Shift from large hierarchical formations to smaller, networked brigades for better deployability, employability, and sustainability.