The enforcement of the ISO Act, which received presidential assent last year and was passed by Parliament during the monsoon session, comes shortly after the BJP’s commitment to establishing military theatre commands for more efficient operations. This decision, coupled with the creation of the chief of defence staff (CDS) post in December 2019, underscores India’s strategic focus on enhancing its military capabilities.
CDS General Anil Chauhan recently chaired a “Parivartan Chintan” meeting, during which 12 sub-committees presented strategies for jointness and integration in preparation for the imminent theaterization. This flurry of activity indicates a significant step towards the creation of integrated theatre commands (ITCs).
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.
India currently operates 17 single-service commands (Army 7, IAF 7, and Navy 3), which often operate independently, leading to inefficiencies. The ISO Act seeks to address these challenges by providing a unified framework for military operations.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) highlighted that the Act will enable the expeditious disposal of cases, avoid multiple proceedings, and promote greater integration and jointness among armed forces personnel. This move is crucial as India faces evolving security challenges, requiring a more cohesive and integrated military structure.China reorganized its People’s Liberation Army into five theatre commands in 2016 to enhance offensive capabilities and improve command-and-control structures. India’s move to create unified theatre commands aligns with global military trends towards more integrated and efficient military structures.The implementation of the ISO Act and the forthcoming creation of unified theatre commands mark a significant milestone in India’s military modernization efforts. This move is expected to enhance the country’s war-fighting capabilities and operational effectiveness, addressing longstanding challenges in military coordination and command structure.
(With inputs from TOI)
