The joint insignia of the Indian armed forces. (File photo)
New Delhi: The defence minister, Rajnath Singh, on Tuesday authorized the chief of defence staff and secretary, Department of Military Affairs, to issue “Joint Instructions and Joint Orders” for all three services – the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force. This comes a month after the Ministry of Defence had taken a major step towards enhancing the integration of the three services by notifying rules under the Inter-Services Organizations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023, as India Sentinels had reported then.
Tuesday's move represents a significant departure from the existing system where instructions and orders concerning two or more services were issued separately by each service. Previously, the Army issued Army Orders and Army Instructions (AOAI), the Navy had Navy Orders and Navy Instructions (NONI), and the Air Force operated under Air Force Orders and Air Force Instructions (AFOAFI).
The first Joint Order on “Approval, Promulgation and Numbering of Joint Instructions and Joint Orders” was released on Tuesday, with the defence ministry stating it would streamline procedures, eliminate redundancies and enhance cross-service cooperation.
Foundation for theatre commands
The authorization forms part of broader plans to align policies and organizational structures as India prepares to transition its armed forces into integrated theatre commands. The Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) is implementing reforms designed to create an integrated operational environment under these commands with joint force structures.
The initiative falls under the government's decision to observe 2025 as the “Year of Reforms” in the defence ministry.
Generally, orders typically address policy and procedural changes and carry greater authority, while instructions focus on implementing these policies and changes. The new system is expected to improve transparency, coordination and administrative efficiency across the three services.
Historic military reorganization
The country’s armed forces are undergoing their most significant reorganization since independence, with preparations for the first Integrated Theatre Command (ITC) in advanced stages. Both the United States and China already deploy their forces under theatre command structures.
The HQ IDS, which leads multiple initiatives for furthering integration among the services, is headed by the chief of integrated defence staff to the chairman, chiefs of staff committee (CISC), under the CDS – a post which General Anil Chauhan currently hold. Already, as India Sentinels had reported earlier, the government has given the go-ahead for implementing a common evaluation process for promotion and posting of senior officers in the Army, Navy, and the Air Force way back in June 2023.
The current reform process began with the government’s creation of the Department of Military Affairs in 2019 and the establishment of the CDS position. The CDS post was created following the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee after the 1999 conflict, though it took two decades for the government to implement the suggestion.
CDS role and responsibilities
The CDS functions include administering triservice organizations, agencies and commands, and promoting jointness in operations, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, and repairs and maintenance across the three services.
The position was first filled by General Bipin Rawat in December 2019, who died in a helicopter crash in December 2021. Gen Anil Chauhan assumed the role in September 2022.
The integrated theatre command structure aims to optimize resource utilization and enhance operational effectiveness by eliminating duplication of efforts and ensuring unified command structures for specific geographical areas or functional domains.
