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India's Defence Theaterisation Plan | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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India's Defence Theaterisation Plan

Posted 08 Sep 2025

Updated 09 Sep 2025

1 min read

Article Summary

Article Summary

Theaterisation aims to unify India's military resources into geographical commands, marking a major restructuring, but faces challenges like service reservations, structural disruptions, and cost concerns.

Differing opinions on India's proposed theaterisation plan were observed at Ran Samwad 2025.

What is Theaterisation?

  • Theaterisation is a plan to integrate resources of the Army, Navy, and Air Force into specific geographical commands under a single, unified command structure.
    • It represents India's biggest post-Independence military restructuring, aiming to move away from the current system of 17 service-specific commands.
    • The Chief of Defence Staff , that heads the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) is mandated for establishment of joint/theatre commands.

Challenges with Theaterisation:

  • IAF Reservations: Fearing the division of scarce combat assets would compromise its core doctrine and operational flexibility.
  • India-Specific Model: There is caution against "blindly following" foreign models like the US, emphasizing the need for an India-specific solution tailored to its unique threats and requirements.
  • Structural Disruption: Dismantling existing command structures is seen as a potentially disruptive impact on combat readiness during transition.
  • Domain Knowledge & Command: Concerns exist regarding a theatre commander from one service effectively commanding and understanding the intricacies of another service's assets, particularly air power.
  • Cost and Industrial Base: Skepticism about huge expenditure with doubtful returns and the absence of a robust domestic military-industrial complex.
  • Tags :
  • Integrated Theatre Command
  • Defence Reforms
  • Defence Theaterisation
  • Ran Samwad 2025
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