Srinagar: The Indian Army is preparing for a new era of strategic preparedness with the introduction of Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), designed to counter China’s growing military presence along the shared border.
This initiative comes in the wake of a recent breakthrough in the four-year-long military standoff with China, where both countries reached an agreement on patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The IBG initiative, confirmed by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, aims to bolster India’s strategic readiness in response to China’s restructuring of its military forces. The draft proposal for the formation of IBG has been forwarded to the government and the implementation could begin as early as 2025, according to the sources quoted by India Today.
This comes after India, on October 21, announced that it reached an agreement with China on patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), marking a breakthrough in ending the over four-year-long military standoff, which began following the deadly clashes between the troops of both countries in June 2020 in Galwan Valley.
China has reorganized its military zones into five theatre commands, including the Western Theatre Command dedicated to operations near the Indian border. This command structure boasts both ground and air forces, equipped for rapid response capabilities.
To further enhance its operational capabilities, China has transformed several divisions into Combined Armed Brigades (CABs), showcasing a significant boost in combat effectiveness. The IBGs, modelled after the American military structure, are designed to match and counterbalance this growing Chinese presence.
The 17th Mountain Corps, based in Panagarh, is set to become the first to incorporate the IBG structure, with plans for five such groups within this Corps. This structure, strategically deployed in high-altitude combat scenarios, will be followed by the 9th Corps in the Central Sector, initially with plans for four IBGs.
