Theatre command

• The Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force have achieved a consensus on the establishment of theatre commands by 2024.
• The revised plan entails the creation of three integrated theater commands, each headed by a senior three-star general, namely, a Lieutenant General, an Air Marshal, or a Vice Admiral.
• These commands will be responsible for managing northern borders with China, western front with Pakistan, and a maritime command in peninsular India.
  • Moreover, the proposal for an Air Defence Command (ADC) has been dropped.

ABOUT THEATRE COMMAND

• Theatre Command means putting specific number of personnel from three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) under a common commander in a specified geographical territory.
• Shekatkar committee and Kargil review committee had recommended the creation of theatre commands.
• India has 19 military commands in total with 17 of them service-oriented.
  • Army-7, IAF-7, and Navy- 3
• Currently, India has two unified commands:
  • Andaman and Nicobar Command, which is geographical.
  • Strategic Forces Command, which is functional and handles the country’s nuclear arsenal.