New Delhi: The rollout of Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), a major operational reform envisioned by former Chief of Defence Staff late Gen Bipin Rawat during his tenure as Army chief, began Wednesday with the China-focused 17 Mountain Strike Corps (MSC).
IBGs—mid-sized, self-sufficient agile formations meant for punitive operations—will form the backbone of the Indian Army’s future operational strategy across all Strike Corps. Headed by a Major General, an IBG is primed to strike in less than 24 hours. Each IBG will have a strength of around 5,000 personnel, which would be larger than a brigade (3,000-3,500 troops) but smaller than a division (10,000-12,000 troops).
The Government Sanction Letter for IBGs in the 17 MSC is dated 1 July, from when raising, postings and other administrative processes can begin.
Former Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi had in January said that the government had approved the long-pending proposal for setting up IBGs, the first of which will come up in 17 MSC. Once the IBG-isation of the 17 MSC is completed, the remaining Strike Corps will undergo the same restructuring, as reported by ThePrint.
Sources in the defence and security establishment told ThePrint that the IBG is being rolled out in phases within the 17 MSC. The Corps currently has two Divisions under it—the 23 Div and the 57 Div.
Sources further said that the first Division to see IBG formation will be the 23 Div, which will be divided into two IBGs having their own self-sufficient units—artillery, armoured, combat engineers and signal.
The process is likely to be completed by mid-2027.
“The 17 MSC is an active Corps which has a very significant mandate. Such reorganisation cannot happen in one go. First, the 23 Div will see the creation of two IBGs and then the 57 Division,” a source explained, adding that this is to ensure there are no gaps in case of any operational need.
IBGs will be sector- and terrain-specific. Effectively, IBGs in the North will differ from those in the Western sector. Resources, in terms of equipment, will be determined by terrain, enemy threat and the task.
IBGs first made their debut under a trial in 2019 when Gen Rawat was Army chief. The 17 MSC also debuted at the same time. As ThePrint reported then, IBGs are set to replace the current concept of the Cold Start Doctrine. The doctrine called for defensive corps to carry out shallow cross-border thrusts within 72 hours for limited objectives such as the capture of territory.
The Army found itself wanting in 2001 after the then government ordered it to march ahead in the wake of the Parliament attack that December. It took nearly three weeks for it to deploy its strike corps to the border, which cost it the valuable surprise element.
The Army then worked on the Cold Start Doctrine, something that was not acknowledged for very long or exercised in its full spectrum until Gen Rawat took over in 2016. The new Army leadership felt that the 72 hours notice was also very long.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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