New Delhi, Oct. 15 -- Interestingly, though the theme for the just concluded Combined Commanders' Conference was "Year of Reforms - Transforming for the Future", in the Indian Ministry of Defence press release dated 17 Sep 2025, there is not a word on theaterisation. The concept of "theatreisation" - unifying military forces under a single theatre commander responsible for all operations in a geographical area - has gained prominence in defence reforms worldwide. Nations like the United States, Russia, and China have adopted this model, citing efficiency, clarity of command, and operational synergy. In India, too, the proposal has been actively debated since the creation of the post of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in 2019.

However, w...