Breaking The Silos: India’s Journey Towards Theatre Commands

India’s armed forces are at a turning point. As the nature of warfare evolves across multiple domains, so too must the way we plan, fight, and organise our military power. In this episode of Defence Mantra, Nitin A. Gokhale breaks down the most significant transformation of India’s military since Independence: the move toward jointness, integration, and the creation of theatre commands.

What does “theaterisation” really mean? Why is the shift from single-service operations to integrated joint commands so important? How is the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force adapting to this change—not just in command structure, but in capability, logistics, training, and technology?

Nitin A. Gokhale brings his deep strategic insight to unpack India’s modernisation journey—from the rollout of the Integrated Capability Development Plan (ICDP) and new procurement models to the operationalisation of joint doctrines and theatre commands. He discusses challenges in implementation, global benchmarks, and the need for interoperability in an increasingly contested region.

With India’s focus on becoming future-ready, self-reliant in defence production, and equipped for multi-domain operations, this episode provides a timely and critical look at where we stand—and what lies ahead.