India’s push for theatre commands, which seek to integrate the Indian Army, Navy, and the Indian Air Force under unified, geography or function-based commands, seems to be taking definite shape as reports indicate that a larger framework for theatreisation has been finalised and is awaiting government approval.
While the idea of joint commands had been discussed earlier in committees like the Kargil Review Committee, it was late General Bipin Rawat, the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), who made an aggressive pitch for the implementation of this structure, which is expected to ensure better utilisation of military assets and resources, reduced duplication of assets, quicker decision-making, and improved combat effectiveness, especially in the case of a two-front scenario involving China and Pakistan.
India’s current Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, has been actively taking forward the theatreisation push initiated by his predecessor.
In 2023, speaking at an event, he had said, “The national security realm, the concept of theatreisation is a fundamental change that is on the anvil.” “It is one of the most ambitious changes with far-reaching implications attempted post-independence. The start of this journey depends on the right steps being taken first towards jointness and integration. Theatreisation involves the creation of tri-service, theatre-specific structures for effective response along the entire spectrum of conflict,” he had then said.
From concept to execution
Reports now suggest that concrete progress on command structures and roles is being made with regard to theatreisation, with plans to form three theatre commands that are focused on China, Pakistan, and the seas or the maritime domain.
The Print, citing sources in the defence and security establishment, said the Western theatre, which will be focused on Pakistan, will be headed by an IAF officer, and the Northern theatre, with a focus on China, will be led by an Indian Army officer. The third, the maritime command, will be headed by an Indian Navy officer.
The report said the finalisation of the contours of theatreisation is happening within the military, and upon completion of this, the defence ministry and the Cabinet Committee on Security will review it before implementation.
Sources have been quoted as saying that these positions are largely finalised, with little likelihood of rotation, unlike the earlier plan, which had rotational roles for the three services. A report in The Tribune said the IAF will be the permanent lead in the western theatre.
It does make sense for the IAF to head the highly time-sensitive and escalation-prone western front with Pakistan, where air power offers the fastest response, including precision strikes, which is important in the initial phase of a conflict, as shown by Operation Sindoor in May.
Meanwhile, reports also say the military is considering the formation of a Vice Chief of Defence Staff to assist the CDS.
The Tribune quoted a top military official as saying that more than 90 per cent of the planning with regard to theatreisation has been completed.
“Our move towards joint structures and Theatre Commands — with planning now reported to be more than 90 per cent complete — is a historic opportunity,” Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was quoted as saying.
Theatreisation push at ‘Ran Samwaad 2026’
Delivering the keynote address at the second edition of ‘Ran Samwaad 2026’ in Bengaluru, Air Marshal Dixit had said India’s environment makes the transformation towards Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) urgent. “India’s environment makes this transformation urgent - not aspirational. We face threats that do not respect domain boundaries,” he had said.
Pointing out that hybrid threats, including misinformation campaigns, cyber intrusions targeting power grids, and drone swarms over sensitive installations, deliberately blur the line between peace and conflict, he said, “These threats cannot be addressed by one service. They cannot be addressed sequentially. They must be addressed simultaneously, across domains, in a synchronised, coordinated response.”
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He further explained, “True MDO is architectural. It requires force structures, command relationships, data standards, training pathways, and industrial ecosystems to be built for interoperability from the very start. It is about thinking in terms of systems rather than platforms, effects rather than service equities, and the speed of decision-making rather than tradition.”
“In short, MDO is not about what we own. It is about what we can do together - faster than the adversary,” he added.
