Theatreisation Gains Momentum, but India’s Operational Realities Drive a Custom Approach

India’s plan to shift from service-specific commands to integrated theatre commands has reached a pivotal stage. For years, the reform has been described as a natural progression for a country facing complex,

multi-front security challenges. But as the framework slowly moves toward implementation, the conversation has become more grounded and pragmatic. The enthusiasm for a modern, joint structure remains strong, yet the finer details are being shaped by the realities of how India’s armed forces actually operate on a daily basis.Unlike many countries that have adopted theatre commands as part of an expeditionary model, India’s security environment is overwhelmingly continental. The northern and western borders demand year-round attention, with soldiers manning posts across high-altitude terrain, counter-infiltration grids and difficult frontier belts. The Army’s operational footprint naturally makes it central to discussions on how theatres should be drawn, who should lead them and how resources should be allocated. This influence is not the result of institutional preference but of geography and responsibility.Advocates of theatre commands argue that India needs faster decision-making, tighter integration and a unified operational picture. They point to recent global conflicts where air, land, cyber and information domains blended into a single battlespace. A more integrated structure, they say, would allow the Services to respond more coherently to multi-domain threats. Over time, India has already begun moving in this direction, with joint logistics nodes, fused air-defence networks and more frequent tri-service exercises.However, the path forward is less about adopting a pre-set international model and more about aligning reforms with India’s specific operational context. One recurring concern raised quietly by many officers—across services—is how command authority will be delegated under the new system. In high-pressure situations along the northern borders, decisions often need to be taken quickly and with intimate awareness of terrain, weather and the ground situation. Any new structure must retain this responsiveness.Another layer of complexity lies in balancing service capabilities. The Air Force has highlighted the importance of retaining the flexibility to concentrate airpower rapidly, especially given its limited fighter squadron numbers. The Navy, whose operations extend far beyond the Indian coastline and into the wider Indo-Pacific, views theatreisation as an opportunity to streamline maritime responsibilities. Each service carries distinct roles, and the challenge is designing an architecture that improves cooperation without constraining core competencies.Logistics — often the quiet backbone of military operations — may prove to be the most decisive factor in shaping how theatre commands evolve. India’s northern and northeastern sectors rely heavily on intricate supply chains involving roads, air maintenance, engineering detachments and stocking patterns refined over decades. Integrating these systems under new command arrangements will require careful calibration. While jointness is the aim, the continuity and reliability of existing mechanisms cannot be disrupted.Despite these challenges, there is broad agreement within the military establishment that theatreisation is both necessary and inevitable. The question is no longer whether India will adopt the model, but how it will be adapted to suit the country’s strategic environment. The government has signalled steady intent by empowering the Chief of Defence Staff to coordinate the reform, ensuring that the transition happens gradually rather than abruptly.The experience of recent exercises shows the direction India is already moving in. Air-defence pictures are being integrated between services. Intelligence from multiple platforms is being pooled more effectively. Units from different arms are operating together with increasing familiarity. These are incremental but important steps, indicating that joint culture is taking root ahead of formal structural changes.Ultimately, the success of theatre commands will depend on whether they make India’s armed forces faster, better coordinated and more capable across the full spectrum of operations. For that to happen, the final design will have to reflect the operational weight carried by different services, the unique demands of India’s borders and the lessons accumulated from decades of deployment in diverse terrain.Theatreisation is not simply a reorganisation of headquarters. It is a rethinking of how India prepares for and manages conflict in an era of simultaneous, overlapping challenges. The reform will take time, and its contours will continue to evolve. But as long as it remains grounded in practical realities and driven by operational logic, it has the potential to strengthen India’s long-term security posture.