Coming of Theaterisation of the Indian Defence Forces: Service Chiefs get their ADCs from sister services on Jan 1, 2025

Defence forces evolve to meet national goals, such as protecting sovereignty, aiding allies, and projecting power. They consist of branches like the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and often resist changes, especially when adopting an integrated approach like Theaterisation. Different countries have varied methods for implementing Theaterisation.

By Maj Gen (Dr) Ashok Kumar, VSM (Retd)

Defence forces the world over evolve in tune with their national ambitions whether it be for protecting their sovereignty, assistance to friendly foreign countries or projection of national power regionally or internationally. It is also equally true that the defence forces have various constituents to include Army, Navy and Air Force while some countries may have more components. Invariably, the services develop a very strong way of working including in the areas of employment of forces and resources. They resist major changes especially when an integrated approach is attempted for warfighting in the form of Theaterisation. Different countries have adopted different processes for adopting Theaterisation.

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In the US, this reform was top driven wherein the Government brought in the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defence Reorganisation Act of 1986 which ushered a major transformation in US Defence Forces. It came up with the concept of ‘Warfighting commanders’ responsible for conduct of operations whereas Service Chiefs were removed from the operational responsibility. They were now mainly concentrating on Raise, Sustain and Train (RST) functions. Due to this, the Theaterisation became a reality in US Defence Forces.

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China adopted Theaterisation in 2015 as it is an autocratic country and the decision was imposed top down. Though it is now close to a decade now but there are some teething problems still which are being attempted to be addressed.

Russia also utilised the autocratic power to usher these changes and is refining it further.

A closer analysis will reveal that the Theaterisation has been adopted by those countries which either follow the autocratic way of functioning (Russia, China) or by the Government order in top-down format (USA) or those who have a security umbrella like NATO (France, Germany). There has been no democratic country in the world which has succeeded in adopting Theaterisation after building willing consensus amongst the three main services viz Army, Navy and Air Force.

India signalled its willingness to adopt Theaterisation when PM Narendra Modi announced creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) from the ramparts of Red Fort on 15 Aug 2019.  With due process, General Bipin Rawat was appointed as first CDS of the country on 01 Jan 2020 after waiting for multiple decades. His primary responsibility was development of the concept of Integrated Operations and operationalise Theaterisation.

Gen Bipin Rawat commenced efforts with due seriousness but consensus building takes time. Some apprehensions from the services also came to the fore but before all aspects could be resolved, we lost him in a tragic accident in Dec 2021 in a helicopter crash near DSSC Wellington (TN). The period was also marked by Chinese transgressions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh in Apr-May 2020 which necessitated that it was not that important to get the Theaterisation implemented ‘Early’ but it was critical to get it ‘Right’. This effort commenced with absolute seriousness with the appointment of General Anil Chauhan as second CDS of India with effect from 30 Sep 2022.

The current CDS is spearheading a consensus-based approach amongst the three services the success of which is going to knock the door of our defence forces in 2025. The announcements related to Theaterisation may come whenever the formal approval is given by the Government but India will be the first democratic country in the world which will be successful in adopting Theaterisation through consensus building amongst the three services, viz Army, Navy and Air force.

The announced Theaters will come with requisite capability to undertake operations as all the building blocks are being systematically refined. Close to 200 subjects have been identified which are required to be tackled in the run up to getting the operationally ready Theaters. Most of these building blocks have already been curated for efficient functioning while few balanced ones will also get resolved before the Theaterisation is announced.

The high point of Theaterisation in India is the development of consensus amongst the three services and top leadership in the Government. One does not recall a single event where service chiefs have ever spoken against the evolving concept of Theaterisation since Sep 2022.

The following additional actions have been taken for seamless adoption of the Theaterisation: –

Systematic work on adoption on Jointness and integration across all spectrums of functioning of the defence forces.

Cross posting of a large number of officers in all the three services which has readied them to adopt Theaterisation naturally.

Common format of reporting in their annual reports.

Enabling disciplinary powers, and many more such measures.

The difference which India is making is the consensus-based approach in a democratic country. This gets proved by a single fact that all the three service chiefs have voluntarily accepted their personal staff officers in the form of Aide-de-Camp (ADC) coming from different services. So far, the service chiefs were not only getting their ADCs from their services but also from the units to which they felt connected in a special way. Getting their ADCs from the sister services was not even thought of, leave aside getting it implemented. Acceptance of ADCs from sister services is the acme of their willingness for adoption of Theaterisation. This change has been adopted by all the three service chiefs from 01 Jan 2025 signalling the major changes coming in 2025. To some, it may appear a small step but it is one of the biggest signalling for transforming Defence Forces for empowering India.

The author is Director General, CENTRE FOR JOINT WARFARE STUDIES (CENJOWS), New Delhi.

Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal