New Delhi: India is currently in the process of developing joint military doctrines to improve coordination among its three services and other essential components of the defence establishment, in order to effectively address future security challenges, according to officials.
The Indian Ministry of Defence has been actively pursuing a comprehensive theaterisation plan to promote synergy among the country's three armed services. This plan seeks to create a joint approach to defence operations and management.
A conference held on September 22 focused on various aspects of joint military doctrines and aimed to bridge gaps in understanding between the headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) and the three services involved in the formulation of these doctrines. The conference also assessed the progress of ongoing joint doctrines and facilitated the sharing of best practices and initiatives in doctrinal matters.
Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine Organisation and Training), chaired the 'joint doctrine review' conference, which spanned two sessions and addressed issues related to cyberspace, amphibious operations, and space.
The conference, attended by subject matter experts from the Doctrine Development Agencies of HQ IDS and the three services, as well as members from reputable think tanks, was deemed a success in achieving its objectives.
In parallel with the development of joint military doctrines, the Indian government is actively advancing its theaterisation plan. Under this plan, each theatre command will integrate units from the army, navy, and air force to function as a unified entity responsible for addressing security challenges within a specific geographical area, under the command of an operational commander.
Currently, the three services operate under separate commands. The theaterisation plan aims to optimise resource utilisation and enhance the overall capabilities of the armed forces.