India needs joint commands & it needs a CDS

Source: This post is created based on the article “It’s time India and Japan rethink their nuclear policy” published on Indian Express on 26^th July 2022.

Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Security Forces in India

News: Recently, India’s Defence Minister re-emphasised that joint theatre commands are a defence reform priority.

The theatre commands are important as Warfare is changing. One modern response to these changes it joint commands that amalgamate manpower and resources of the three services.

What is the need of Joint theatre commands?

1) The rise of the China-Pakistan axis.

2) Strategic complications highlighted by the Ukraine war.

3) China’s rationalisation and transformation of its armies and establishment of five theatre commands.

What are the challenges to the establishing Joint Theatre Commands?

First, at present, India has 17 single-service commands spread across a wide geography. Converting these commands into joint theatre commands would require a radical change in the culture of armed forces.

Second, since air force assets have dual offensive and defensive roles, AF has already reservations about further splitting its assets. Government formed an eight-member panel under then Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat in June 2021. But after the death of General, the post of CDS is lying vacant. The position should be filled at the priority and panel should be reactivated.

Third, the protests and resistance against the Agnipath scheme can be a hurdle to implementation of Joint commands.