Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs)

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has called Jointness 2.0, which is developing Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs) in Armed Forces.

About Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs):

• Integration of three defence services in India aims to establish Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs), which involve the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• An Integrated Theatre Command is a unified command structure for strategic geographic areas, designed to enhance operational synergy and security.
• Commands are led by a single commander who manages all resources across the three services with seamless efficacy, ensuring jointness in operations.
• These commanders operate independently of the individual services, focusing on unified strategic objectives rather than service-specific agendas.
• The integration fosters better inter-service coordination and reduces resource duplication, making the overall defense mechanism more efficient and cohesive.
• According to the Shekatkar Committee, the creation of three specific integrated theatre commands is recommended: northern for the China border, western for the Pakistan border, and southern for maritime roles.
• Theaterisation separates operational functions from administrative duties like Raise-Train-Sustain (RTS), streamlining combat and internal security operations within designated geographic areas.

Current Scenario of Indian Armed Forces:

• The Indian armed forces currently comprise 19 commands, including 17 single-service oriented commands (7 Army, 7 Air Force, and 3 Navy).
• Andaman and Nicobar Command is the first and only tri-service theatre command, established to protect strategic interests in Southeast Asia and the Strait of Malacca since 2001.
• The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) is another tri-service entity responsible for the oversight and operational control of India’s nuclear arsenal.
• Each command within the armed forces is headed by a military officer with a 3-star rank, focusing on specialized strategic, operational, or geographic domains.

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