Amid rising collusive threats from China & Pakistan (reinforced during Operation Sindoor), the Indian Army is establishing ‘Rudra’ brigades & ‘Bhairav’ commando battalions to enhance swift offensive capabilities along borders.

Structural Reforms in Indian Army’s Combat Capabilities

• The Army is going in for ‘Shaktibaan’ artillery regiments, with special ‘Divyadrishti’ surveillance and loitering munitions batteries, 
  • The Army will equip all its infantry battalions with drone platoons, against the backdrop of drone warfare.
• Bhairav Light Commando Battalions: Raised from regular infantry, these battalions are trained for high-speed, high-mobility operations with modern drones, gadgets, and lightweight weaponry.
• Rudra All-Arms Brigades: Existing units are being converted into integrated formations combining infantry, mechanised infantry, tanks, artillery, UAVs, and special forces. 
  • This is in tune with the long-pending proposal to restructure some Army formations into self-contained Integrated Battle Groups.

About Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs)

• Concept: The IBGs are envisioned as agile, brigade-sized combat formations better suited for modern warfare with the support of technology. 
  • These formations will be tailor-made based on three factors: Threat, Terrain, and Task.
• Size: Each IBG will have a troop strength of around 5,000 personnel.
• Post-Operation Parakram, the IBG Doctrine emerged as part of the Cold Start or Pro-Active Operations Strategy.
  • Cold Start Doctrine: Military strategy developed by India to rapidly mobilize and deploy forces for limited, swift, and focused strikes against Pakistan.