New Delhi – In a significant move aimed at enhancing integration and synergy within the Indian Armed Forces, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has granted Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan the authority to issue joint orders and instructions to the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
This marks a major departure from the earlier practice where instructions involving two or more services were issued separately by each service, often leading to procedural delays and coordination gaps.
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday, alongside the release of the first joint order concerning the “approval, promulgation and numbering” of joint instructions and joint orders.
“In a major step towards modernisation and transformation of the armed forces, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has authorised the Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs to issue joint instructions and joint orders for all three services,” the ministry said in a statement.
The order highlights the urgent need to streamline procedures, eliminate redundancy, and enhance inter-service cooperation. According to the ministry, this reform is aimed at boosting transparency, administrative efficiency, and operational integration across the armed forces.
“It also marks the beginning of a new era of jointness and integration, reinforcing the Armed Forces’ unity of purpose in serving the nation,” the statement added.
The move aligns with the government’s push towards the implementation of the theaterisation model — a structural overhaul that aims to unify the Army, Navy, and Air Force under integrated theatre commands, each responsible for specific geographical territories.
Under the theaterisation plan, each theatre command will consist of assets and personnel from all three services, functioning as a single war-fighting entity. This is a stark contrast to the current system where each branch of the military operates through its separate command structure.
With the new authority vested in CDS Gen Anil Chauhan, India takes a decisive step toward creating cohesive and modernised defence forces, capable of joint operations and rapid responses to evolving security challenges.