While delivering a lecture, CDS called upon the three services to create a Joint Culture as they move towards forming Joint Operational Structures and termed it as Jointness 2.0.

• CDS also termed Jointness & Integration as pre-requisites to the creation of functional Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs).

About ITCs 

• Theaterisation involves creating unified tri-service (Army, Navy, and Air Force) organisations that would be responsible for combat operations (as well as internal security duties) in specified geographic area.
• Assets from all three services would be placed under theatre commander as required for executing the task to ensure jointness in the operational planning and greater synergy in battle.
• Creation of such commands will separate the ‘operational’ functions from the Raise-Train-Sustain (RTS) and other administrative functions.

Current Structure of Armed Forces

• There are 19 existing commands –
  • 17 single-service oriented commands (7 Army, 7 Air Force, and 3 Navy).
  • Andaman and Nicobar Command and the Strategic Forces Command (in charge of the country's nuclear stockpile) function as tri-services commands.

Challenges in creation of ITCs

• Lack of coherent National Security Strategy;
• Issue of interoperability between arms and equipment of different services;
• Limited resources, particularly with Air Force, to different land-based theatres, maritime theatre, etc.