Govt notifies rules, enabling full operational command synergy in armed forces

New Delhi, May 28: In a major stride toward military reform and jointness, the Government has notified Rules under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023. The Rules, published in the Gazette, will come into effect from May 27, 2025, making the Act fully operational and empowering integrated military command structures.

The newly notified Rules are designed to streamline command, control, and disciplinary procedures across Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs), ensuring more cohesive functioning among the Army, Navy, and Air Force units operating under a unified structure.

The move is expected to significantly enhance administrative efficiency, operational synergy, and swift handling of disciplinary matters within joint commands. The parent act was passed during the Monsoon Session of Parliament in 2023 and received Presidential assent on August 15, 2023. It formally came into force on May 10, 2024, as per a Gazette notification issued on May 8, 2024. The government subsequently notified the ISOs covered under the Act via SRO 72 on December 27, 2024.

A key feature of the legislation is that it empowers Commanders-in-Chief and Officers-in-Command of ISOs to exercise full authority over personnel from all three services serving under them without altering the distinct service conditions of the respective Armed Forces. This ensures unity of command while preserving service-specific norms. The Rules, formulated under Section 11 of the Act, are considered critical to its implementation.

They lay down a formal framework for exercising disciplinary and administrative powers, eliminating redundancy in proceedings, and accelerating decision-making within joint organisations. With this notification, India's long-awaited drive for tri-service integration has taken a tangible step forward, reinforcing a vision of a modern, agile, and unified military structure capable of responding effectively to complex security challenges.