The Modi government’s push for Integrated Theatre Commands has faced growing criticism and concerns over its implementation.
asserted
push → face → implementation
The emphasis on political objectives and tight deadlines risks coming at the expense of military professionalism and could undermine the combat effectiveness of India’s armed forces across the three services.
uncertain
emphasis → risk → services
The Indian Air Force (IAF) remains the most visible victim, but critical shortages in the army and navy further expose the dangerous fragility of India’s defence posture.
asserted
shortages → remain → posture
The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Mar 15, 2023, passed during the Monsoon Session and received presidential assent on Aug 15, 2023.
asserted
Act → introduce → Aug
It came into effect on May 10, 2024, while the rules were notified on May 27, 2025, granting the executive sweeping powers over joint military structures.
uncertain
rules → come → structures
By early 2026, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan had submitted recommendations for three theatre commands — Northern, Western and Maritime — while a Joint Operations Centre was being prepared for operational status by the end of May under pressure to meet government deadlines before the CDS’s extended tenure ended.
uncertain
tenure → submit → deadlines
This politically mandated restructuring overrides professional concerns and service-specific doctrines, turning a potentially valuable reform into a high-risk gamble.
asserted
restructuring → mandate → gamble
As of Apr 2026, the force operates only 29 fighter squadrons — its lowest level in decades — down from roughly 31-32 before the full retirement of the MiG-21 in September 2025.
asserted
force → operate → September
This is well below the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons.
asserted
This → sanction → squadrons
Each squadron fields 18-20 aircraft, giving India a total combat fleet of roughly 464-522 jets.
asserted
squadron → field → jets
Major platforms include 258 Russian-built Su-30MKIs, 36 French-made Rafales, more than 40 Russian MiG-29s and only 30-plus locally made Tejas Mk1 aircraft.
asserted
platforms → include → Su-30MKIs
Pakistan maintains about 25 squadrons, comprising an estimated 387-450 combat aircraft, while China deploys 66 fighter squadrons and more than 1,200 fighters.
asserted
China → maintain → squadrons
Projections suggest that the IAF could reach only 35-36 squadrons by 2035, despite orders for 141 Tejas Mk1A aircraft and procurement clearance for 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) in February 2026.
uncertain
IAF → suggest → February
Discussions about raising the target to 54-56 squadrons highlight the scale of the gap.
asserted
Discussions → raise → gap
The strain is not limited to the air domain.
asserted
strain → limit → domain
The Indian Army faces persistent equipment shortfalls and manpower challenges.
asserted
Army → face → shortfalls
As of 2026, several infantry and artillery units continue to rely on outdated systems.
asserted
units → continue → systems
The artillery modernisation plan remains delayed, with critical gaps in long-range precision munitions and air defence systems.
asserted
plan → remain → munitions
Mountain warfare capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have also been hampered by slow infrastructure development and equipment shortages, amid heightened tensions with China since the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash.
The Indian Navy operates only one aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, while the full operationalisation of INS Vikrant has been delayed by technical and logistical issues.
asserted
operationalisation → hamper → issues
Its submarine fleet has also faced significant shortfalls, with India operating only 15-16 conventional submarines, many of them ageing, against a requirement of at least 24.
asserted
many → face → 24
The number of nuclear-powered attack submarines remains limited.
asserted
number → power → submarines
Destroyer and frigate numbers are insufficient for effective multi-domain operations across the vast Indian Ocean region, particularly amid China’s growing naval presence.
asserted
numbers → grow → presence
Indigenous shipbuilding delays and budget constraints have further widened these gaps, raising questions about the Maritime Theatre Command’s preparedness even before its full implementation.
asserted
delays → widen → implementation
The IAF has strongly resisted the permanent division of its depleted assets among the three theatre commands, warning that such fragmentation could undermine air power’s core advantage of flexibility.
Similar concerns have been raised across the other two services.
uncertain
concerns → resist → services
The army is concerned about losing operational control of assets, while the navy fears its limited blue-water capabilities could be stretched too thin.
uncertain
capabilities → concern → assets
Yet pressure to proceed with the restructuring has continued despite these concerns, contributing to increased inter-service friction since the 2023 Act and the 2025 rules.
asserted
pressure → proceed → Act
Since the post of CDS was created on Jan 1, 2020, the government has outlined a series of reforms, including binding joint orders in July 2025, while planning for the restructuring was reportedly more than 90 per cent complete.
uncertain
planning → create → restructuring
However, chronic under investment, with defence spending consistently below 2.5 per cent of GDP, procurement delays and a multi-vendor fleet have continued to pose challenges for the armed forces.
asserted
investment → continue → forces
The gap between the reform plans and existing capabilities remains significant.
asserted
gap → exist → plans
With only 29 IAF squadrons, fewer than 522 combat aircraft, limited naval platforms and delays in army modernisation, questions remain over the pace at which India can strengthen its overall military capabilities.
asserted
India → remain → capabilities
The accelerated 2026 restructuring could have long-term strategic implications.
uncertain
restructuring → have → implications
Without corrective measures, including substantially increased defence spending, addressing critical shortages across the services, avoiding the forced division of assets and building greater professional consensus, the Integrated Theatre Commands could face significant operational and strategic challenges.
uncertain
Commands → include → challenges
The Aporia
