India's Military Transformation: Joint Commanders Conference

Conference Overview and Participants

• The first Joint Commanders' Conference (JCC) commenced on September 4, 2024, in Lucknow.
• Theme: 'Sashakt and Surakshit Bharat: Transforming Armed Forces'
• Led by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan

Attended by:

• • Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi
  • Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi
  • Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Choudhari
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh scheduled to attend on the second day

Key Focus Areas and Discussions

• Shaping the future of India's military to adapt to changing operational environments
• Reviewing current security situations and defence preparedness
• Emphasizing the importance of jointness and integration across various domains
• Establishing command and control centers with requisite infrastructure
• Focusing on operational preparedness to meet emerging challenges
• Discussing the need for modernization to stay ready and achieve strategic autonomy
• Deliberating on the roadmap for integration among the three services

Proposed Theatre Commands

• CDS Chauhan has prepared a blueprint for three theatre commands:

1.  Northern Theatre Command (Lucknow): Operational role against China

2.  Western Theatre Command (Jaipur): Operational role against Pakistan

3.  Maritime Theatre Command (Thiruvananthapuram): Operational role in the Indian Ocean

• Theatre commanders will be equal in rank to military chiefs
• They will take direct orders from political leadership
• Aimed at synergizing the three services at the operational level

Challenges and Implications

Need to overcome colonial mindset and develop new battle tactics suited to the Indian subcontinent

• Addressing nervousness within armed forces about impending changes
• Importance of basing theatre commands on military doctrine and mission
• Shifting from air-land battles to multi-dimensional warfare
• Reducing over-reliance on battle doctrines of P-5 powers
• Balancing the creation of theatre commands with existing power structures
• Adapting to global instability and potential crises in the region