Indian armed forces and other officials at Combined Commanders Conference in Kolkata (Photo: HQ IDS)
New Delhi: The Indian military leadership has taken a significant stride towards enhanced jointness by approving the establishment of three joint military stations and the creation of a unified triservice education corps, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s defence modernization efforts.
The landmark decisions were announced on the final day of the Combined Commanders’ Conference in Kolkata, on Thursday, representing one of the most substantial moves towards military integration since the establishment of the chief of defence staff in 2019.
The Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff confirmed the developments in a social media post, stating that all service chiefs and commanders had agreed to merge the education branches of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force into a single triservice education corps. This consolidation will streamline educational resources across the three services while maintaining professional standards.
Additionally, the formation of three joint military stations was approved, though specific locations remain undisclosed. These facilities will serve all three services, optimising infrastructure utilisation and fostering greater interservice cooperation.
Major General Ashok Kumar (retired), director general of the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, emphasized that these measures are crucial prerequisites for operationalizing theatre commands – a key component of India’s military transformation agenda.
“Jointness, integration, and theatrization were the intended aims for restructuring the Indian military. However, jointness and synergy were prerequisites to operationalising the theatre commands,” Maj Gen Kumar explained.
The Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, a triservice thinktank, has identified approximately 200 areas for potential integration across the armed forces. This comprehensive approach has already demonstrated its effectiveness during Operation Sindoor, where enhanced coordination between services yielded exceptional results.
Maj Gen Kumar advocated for an even more ambitious vision, suggesting that all military lands, infrastructure, and stations should eventually become common facilities. “A pragmatic policy can be evolved in the best interest of all stakeholders,” he noted.
The creation of a triservice education corps represents a fundamental shift in how military education is delivered across the armed forces. Currently, each service maintains separate education branches responsible for enhancing troops’ educational standards, with personnel deployed across garrisons, headquarters, training centres, military schools, and selection centres.
The unified structure promises greater professional standards compared to individual service profiles while optimizing both infrastructure and human resources. This consolidation aligns with the broader military modernisation strategy that emphasises efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The defence minister, Rajnath Singh, had earlier addressed the commanders, emphasising the importance of “JAI” – jointness, aatmanirbharta (self-reliance), and innovation – a framework outlined by the prime minister, Narendra Modi, during the conference’s inaugural session on September 15.
Singh highlighted that India’s defence sector priorities centre on modernization, operational readiness, technological superiority, and credible deterrence. He called for deeper collaboration with industry and academia to develop future-ready technologies, underscoring the government’s commitment to indigenous defence capabilities.
The minister stressed that jointness and synergy among the armed forces, as well as coordination with other agencies, are essential for addressing future security challenges. This “whole of nation” approach reflects India's evolving strategic doctrine in an increasingly complex security environment.
The announcement also referenced ongoing initiatives such as triservice logistics nodes and the triservice logistic management application, which further promote integration whilst enhancing civil-military fusion – a critical aspect of modern defence planning.
These developments represent a watershed moment in India's military evolution, building upon reforms initiated with the creation of the chief of defence staff position and the ongoing establishment of integrated theatre commands. The measures are expected to enhance operational efficiency whilst reducing redundancies across the three services.
