In a bid to strengthen the Indian Armed Forces’ jointness and interoperability, and to enhance its unified command structure, the Government of India has formally notified the Rules under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control & Discipline) Act, 2023. These Rules were notified via a Gazette Notification and will come into play from May 27, 2025. This significant step towards improving the cohesive operability of the tri-forces will further help with advancing structural reforms aimed at fortifying tri-service integration and improving command efficiency within the defense establishment.
What is The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control & Discipline) Act, 2023?
The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control & Discipline) Act, or the ISO CCD 2023, was initially passed during the Monsoon Session of Parliament in 2023 and received the President’s approval on August 15, 2023. The legislation officially came into force on May 10, 2024, as per the Gazette Notification dated May 08, 2024. Following this, the Government notified the Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) through Gazette Notification No. SRO 72, issued on December 27, 2024.
Legislative Framework Grants Statutory Authority To Commanders in Chief and Officers in Command of ISOs
The enactment of this legislation and its subordinate Rules will serve to enhance India’s military command structure. Under the provisions of the Act, Commanders-in-Chief and Officers-in-Command of ISOs are vested with statutory authority to exercise command, control, and administrative oversight regarding discipline over personnel from different branches of the Armed Forces serving within their formations. Importantly, this command is exercised without infringing upon the individual service conditions unique to the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.
This will significantly improve coordination, streamline decision-making, and foster operational joint operability among tri-service units. Furthermore, the move is aligned with broader reforms aimed at the integration of defense services, including the establishment of theater commands, a central tenet of India’s evolving national security architecture.
Subordinate Rules: An Overview of the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control & Discipline) Act
The ISO Act is also the answer to concerns raised by the top brass of the military, such as COAS Gen Upendra Dwivedi, who have repeatedly underscored the need for jointness & integration among the Armed Forces amid the evolving nature of warfare.
Thus, the newly notified subordinate Rules, framed under Section 11 of the Act, are critical to the operability and the statutory framework of a unified command. These Rules provide the procedural and regulatory blueprint for the effective implementation of the Act’s provisions. They address key areas such as:
- Disciplinary jurisdiction and legal authority within ISOs
- Administrative procedures for command execution
- Mechanisms to avoid duplication of disciplinary proceedings
- Streamlined case disposal systems to enhance efficiency
By delineating clear lines of accountability and administrative processes, these Rules ensure that the unique requirements of joint commands are met without compromising on institutional discipline or chain of command protocols.
Enhancing Operational Effectiveness Through Jointness
The recent success of ‘Operation Sindoor’ and the role of tri-services jointness in it also serve as a testament that the newly applied Rules under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control & Discipline) Act, 2023, will serve the Indian Armed Forces effectively; especially in the face of evolving geopolitical realities. Thus, the coordinated application of military power by integrating resources, platforms, and personnel across the three Services is the cornerstone of India’s modern military capability.
With evolving threat dynamics and the increasing complexity of multi-domain warfare, the need for integrated command structures has become paramount. Hence, in recent times, the ISO (CCD) Act, 2023, supported by the subordinate Rules, represents a transformative shift towards achieving true jointness.
The move is expected to:
- Expedite the resolution of disciplinary cases, thereby reducing legal bottlenecks
- Eliminate procedural redundancies, enhancing resource optimization
- Empower theater-level and joint command structures for quicker and coordinated responses
As India continues to modernize its military forces, such legislative reforms act as key supporters of the vision of a future-ready, agile, and combat-effective defense apparatus.
