What should India’s joint command structure look like? (CDS and a new military vision for India)

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 What should India’s joint command structure look like? (CDS and a new military vision for India)

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• FIRST PERSPECTIVE:

1. Tri-services integration and post-Kargil thought - Post 1999, overhauling the higher defence organisation was decided upon, esp. for tri-services operations. Both military and civil organisations have their own history, and integrating would be delicate.
2. Nuclear dimension - It was clear that the strategic forces must be kept separate from conventional assets. A Dept of Defence Services was created (not the DMA). And the Nuclear Command Authority was built too.
3. Issues in CDS post - It's about the financials, as the services aren't getting enough money. The nature of warfare is changing, and only a holistic view with pooled resources may work now.
4. Powers of CDS - It is not yet clear if the CDS in India should be like the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee in US (with operational command).
5. Theatre commands - These are dedicated tri-services commands to be deployed against China, against Pakistan, and air defence command and a peninsular command. But vision is crucial - what do we want out of all this? These commands work best with dedicated assets. The ANC didn't work out as it had no dedicated assets. One single peninsular command is a bad idea (too vast a shoreline). And then the Quad and Indo-Pacific is coming up!

• SECOND PERSPECTIVE:

1. Tri-services integration and post-Kargil thought - It is not clear why the CDS was created in 2020 (too late). It’s pure assumption that Balakot and Doklam led to it. Maybe the govt. just wanted it to be done as it was too late.
2. Issues in CDS post - The Andaman and Nicobar tri-services command (2001) has been patchy. This joint command didn't succeed as the 3 services didn't share assets, and best men weren't posted. Maybe the CDS will simply brush aside all opposition now and do something good.
3. Theatre commands - The CDS must now give a vision document with his plans. Theatre commands are needed, no doubt, because otherwise you have duplication of roles. Lot of debate is needed.
4. Three-year timeline - The CDS Bipin Rawat spoke of this deadline for rolling out theatre commands, a realistic one.
5. DMA - This Dept of Military Affairs (DMA) that the CDS heads is a new model (not previously discussed). Perhaps the govt. wanted to end all bureaucratic resistance once and for all. But the complex administrative functions needed in DMA are not what military officers are trained for. We now need a National Defence University open for everyone in India, not just militarymen. DMA demands inter-agency roles, and this will prepare us for it.

• Summary : Two perspectives on the structure and shape that Indian military's joint command structure should take.

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