ISSUE DATE: July 12, 2021
UPDATED: July 3, 2021 12:16 IST
Gen. Bipin Rawat, first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) (C) poses for a group photograph with Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane (L), Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh (2nd L), and Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria after inspecting the Guard of Honour at South Block lawns in New Delhi on January 1 2020; Photo by Chandradeep Kumar
Phase two of India’s biggest post-independence military reform is likely to be announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15, 2021. The defence ministry will initiate the setting up of India’s first two integrated military theatres—an integrated maritime theatre command based in Karwar and an integrated air defence command based in Allahabad. Of the two theatres, one will pool warships, patrol craft, soldiers and fighter jets, and the other missile and gun regiments with a network of ground and air radars.