Govt on Wednesday notified Rules under Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control & Discipline) Act 2023 enabling greater jointness and Command efficiency in Armed Forces The notification marks a quiet but powerful moment in India’s ongoing journey toward integrated, modern defence preparedness. The Act now becomes fully operational, empowering Commanders-in-Chief and Officers-in-Command of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) with legal authority to exercise command and enforce discipline over personnel from all branches of the Armed Forces under their command.
In an era increasingly defined by multi-domain warfare and joint operations, this reform is both timely and transformative. For too long, India’s Army, Navy, and Air Force—while individually strong—have operated in silos with separate chains of command, administrative structures, and disciplinary codes. This fractured framework often hampered efficiency, created operational redundancies, and delayed disciplinary action in joint formations. The ISO Act, now fully functional with its Rules notified, seeks to end this fragmentation.
The implications are significant. First, this Act and its Rules will eliminate delays in disciplinary cases, a major operational concern for ISOs. It also helps avoid duplication of proceedings and allows for swift, accountable decision-making. By legally empowering joint commanders to act across service lines without changing the fundamental conditions of service, India is moving closer to a truly integrated military model. This ensures not only functional clarity but also command confidence in tri-service environments.
This reform supports a larger institutional vision outlined by the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), and the proposed Integrated Theatre Commands. These changes are meant to replace service-specific planning with unified threat response models that integrate land, air, sea, space, and cyber domains under a single warfighting doctrine.
The government deserves credit for its political will in ushering this legislation and its supporting Rules through both Houses of Parliament and into full effect. The transition from “jointness in theory” to “jointness in practice” is not easy—it requires legal clarity, cultural change, and inter-service trust.
As India continues to modernize its military doctrine and move towards a multi-theatre, joint force model, this Act is a crucial building block. It is not just about chain of command—it is about preparing India’s Armed Forces for the challenges of tomorrow, where speed, synergy, and structure will define success. With the Rules now notified and the legislation fully operational, India has taken a decisive step toward its vision of “One Force, One Command.” The groundwork is laid; the mission now is to execute with unity, clarity, and purpose.
