An important step is going to be taken towards major military reforms in the Indian Army. Recently General N. became Chief of Defense Staff (CDS). S. Raja Subramani will present the complete proposal of Theater Command to Defense Minister Rajnath Singh by the end of this month. After the approval of the Defense Minister, this proposal will be sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for final approval.
This proposal is based on the final draft prepared by former CDS General Anil Chauhan. General Subramani will give details of this scheme to all concerned parties.
What is theater command?
Theater command means that instead of working separately, the Army, Navy and Air Force should conduct operations together under the leadership of a single commander. This will lead to better coordination between the three armies and faster decisions can be taken during war.
Proposal for three theater commands
Northern Theater Command is responsible for the China border.
Responsibility of Western Theater Command Pakistan Border.
Maritime Theater Command Responsibility for the Indian Ocean and Andaman and Nicobar area.
What will be the big changes?
According to sources, four new four-star posts will be created under the scheme. These will also include the post of Vice Chief of Defense Staff. The command of all three theater commands will also be in the hands of a four-star officer.
After the implementation of the new system, the role of the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs will be mainly limited to the training, preparation and resources of their respective forces, while the responsibility of operations during wartime will be handled by the theater commander.
On what point is there disagreement?
The government is in favor of this reform, but there are different opinions on some issues among the three armies. According to sources, the Indian Army and Navy are supporting the theater command, while the Air Force is worried that their limited fighter aircraft and other air resources being distributed among different theaters may reduce their effectiveness.
Why is this reform necessary?
In modern warfare, better coordination between the three armies is considered very important. Formation of theater command will help in joint operations, sharing of intelligence and better utilization of resources. In view of the dual security challenges like China and Pakistan, it is being considered as one of the biggest military reforms of the Indian Armed Forces. If approved by CCS, it will be the biggest change in India’s military command system since independence.
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