New Delhi: As part of the efforts to involve all sections of the armed forces, for the first time jawans will be part of this year’s Combined Commanders’ Conference and participate in discussions on military affairs in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highly placed sources told media, adding that the suggestion came from the Prime Minister himself.
“Jawans would be participating in discussions and give their valuable suggestions on topics related to operations and functioning of the defence forces,” sources said.
This would be the first time that jawans would be part of this high-level military conference. So far, only the topmost brass of the three services – Army, Navy and Air Force – were allowed to participate in this conference.
Setting up theatre commands for better utilisation of resources aimed at bringing in synergy among the armed forces and self-reliance in the defence sector will be the key agenda of deliberations in the Combined Commanders’ Conference that will also be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Combined Commanders’ Conference 2021 is scheduled to be held in Kevadia, Gujarat between March 4 and 6.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address top commanders of the Indian Army, Air Force and the Navy on March 5 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address them on March 6.
“Setting up a new ‘Air Defence Command’ and ‘Maritime Command’ will be discussed in detail. The timeline for implementation of ‘Air Defence Command’ will also be deliberated,” said an official.
A ‘Maritime Command’, a separate command for Jammu and Kashmir, the need to have a focused command for China and a separate ‘Air Defence Command’ is part of the blueprint for the joint theatre commands that are part of the major restructuring exercise within the armed forces.
The joint or theatre commands for the military could start rolling out by 2022.
The ‘Air Defence Command’ will bring together all resources of the Air Force, Army and the Navy, and will be headed by a three-star Indian Air Force officer.
Similarly, the ‘Maritime Command’ will have all assets of the three services under one command headed by a naval officer controlling all sea operations.
The newly created Department of Military Affairs headed by the Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat is working towards creation of ‘joint military commands’.
Gen Rawat has a mandate to gradually bring all service commands under one umbrella in a time-bound manner, sources said.
Currently there are 19 commands and only two out of these are tri-service commands. These are the Andaman, and Nicobar Command and Strategic Forces Command that is in charge of nuclear assets.
During the conference, top officials in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will give presentations and key areas of discussions will also include self-reliance, officials said.
