Theaterisation in focus, PM to address top guns with 'RRR' as theme

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on April 1 address a top military conference with an eye on the theaterisation of the Indian military.

The three-day Combined Commanders' Conference began on Thursday and the same is based on the theme, "ready, Resurgent, Relevant."

"During the conference, deliberations will be held over a varied spectrum of issues pertaining to national security, including jointness and theaterisation in the armed forces," a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) read.

"Preparation of the armed forces and progress in defence ecosystem towards attaining 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance) will also be reviewed," the statement also read.

Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, the chief of defence staff, the three service chiefs, and top commanders of the armed forces are among those taking part in the meet. The personnel below officer rank (PBOR) will also take part in the meet.

"Inclusive and informal interaction will also be held with soldiers, sailors and airmen from army, navy and air force who will contribute to the deliberations," the PMO also said.

The PBOR took part in the Combined Commanders' Conference for the first time in 2021 when it was held in Kevadia, Gujarat. The conference in 2021 was also attended by the PM.

The key focus of the meet is on military theaterisation. This is an important move and the Prime Minister had appointed a chief of defence staff with this sole purpose in mind. The theaterisation is important in the context of a two front war and an aggressive China. India and China have been locked in a tense stand-off for nearly two years now.

The conference also comes at a time when the government is pushing a bill in the Parliament to empower the commanders of the tri-services organisations to take action against service personnel of any of the three services, serving under existing or future joint commands or institutions. This is being pushed to ensure discipline and effective discharge of duties.

The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023 also seeks to empower the government to notify the setting up of inter-services organisations, including joint service commands. This is a key goal in the ongoing theaterisation drive.

The theaterisation model which began under the watch of India's first chief of defence staff, General Bipin Rawat sought to set up four integrated commands-two land centric, an air defence command and a maritime theatre command. The process had slowed down post his untimely death in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu. Moreover the Air Force too had expressed reservations about the joint structures that were earlier under consideration.