In a landmark decision aimed at accelerating the modernization and operational integration of the Indian Armed Forces, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has formally authorized the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs (DMA), to issue Joint Instructions and Joint Orders applicable to the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. This decision marks a transformative step towards achieving a unified, joint-force structure across India’s military architecture.
Until now, orders or instructions concerning more than one Armed Service have been issued independently by each respective branch, often leading to duplication of effort, procedural delays, and operational inconsistencies. The authorization granted to the CDS and Secretary, DMA, currently Gen. Anil Chauhan, is a significant departure from the legacy system and is designed to streamline command and administrative protocols across the Services.
Institutionalizing Military Jointness Through Authorized Directives
The issuance of the first official Joint Order, titled “Approval, Promulgation and Numbering of Joint Instructions and Joint Orders,” on June 24, 2025, signifies the beginning of a new era of standardization and inter-Service harmonization. This directive will now serve as the central guiding framework for issuing future joint directives, ensuring that every command, policy change, or operational instruction has a common format, shared understanding, and single point of accountability.
By allowing the CDS to issue Joint Orders, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) aims to eliminate procedural redundancies, improve responsiveness, and enhance clarity in multi-Service operations—especially critical in joint task forces and integrated theater commands under development.
This move is in line with international military best practices observed in integrated defense organizations such as the U.S. Department of Defense’s Unified Command Plan and the UK Ministry of Defence’s Joint Forces Command. India’s emphasis on jointness echoes a global trend where modern militaries are shifting towards integrated capabilities to meet hybrid threats and rapidly evolving operational environments.
Raksha Mantri Emphasized Operational Efficiency and Strategic Integration
One of the key pillars of defense reform in India is the enhancement of interoperability among the three Services. The ability of the Army, Navy, and Air Force to operate seamlessly across domains—land, sea, air, space, and cyber—requires joint planning, execution, and accountability.
With the CDS now empowered to issue Joint Orders, there are multiple advantages to the proposed structure, such as:
- Unified Decision-Making: Instructions that impact multiple Services no longer require individual approvals, reducing administrative lag.
- Faster Operational Readiness: Joint Orders ensure quicker implementation of defense initiatives, especially during crisis scenarios.
- Elimination of Ambiguities: A single, consolidated directive helps in avoiding misinterpretations that may arise from Service-specific jargon or practices, enhancing the efficiency of an operation.
- Strengthening of Theatre Commands: Lays the groundwork for the smooth establishment of Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs), which requires cohesive policy execution.
These changes, albeit radical, are the right step in modernizing the Indian Army, especially as they align with broader structural reforms outlined in the Shekatkar Committee Report, which called for rationalization of defense infrastructure and increased jointness in training, logistics, and operational planning.
Transparent and Standardized Administration
Transparency and administrative efficiency are core goals of the new policy. The introduction of a numbering and documentation protocol for Joint Instructions and Joint Orders will ensure accountability, ease of retrieval, and standardization across the defense ecosystem. Furthermore, the mechanism is expected to facilitate more effective auditing, historical referencing, and legal scrutiny of orders, which are essential components of a professional and modern military command system.
By establishing a single line of command for tri-Service directives, the Indian Armed Forces are now better positioned to meet future threats through a cohesive and coordinated response structure. This shift is especially relevant given the increasingly integrated nature of modern warfare, where cyberattacks, grey-zone operations, and cross-domain deterrence require synchronized strategic planning.
Reinforcing Unity of Purpose
The authorization of the CDS and DMA Secretary to issue Joint Orders is more than an administrative adjustment; it is a reaffirmation of the unity of the Indian Armed Forces. As India aspires to become a regional security provider and a global power, operational synergy among its military branches is paramount.
This reform also aligns with the Government of India’s long-term strategic vision under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which advocates for self-reliance in defense manufacturing and a future-ready force structure. The CDS’s enhanced role underpins the overall objectives of defense modernization, capability development, and strategic deterrence.
