Syllabus: 

GS3: Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism.

GS3: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate 

Context: 

Recently, the Chief of Army Staff outlined the Army’s transformation into a future-ready force during his visit to Drass sector in Kargil on the 26th anniversary of Vijay Diwas. 

More on the News

• The Chief of Army Staff announced the establishment of ‘Rudra’ all-arms brigades, ‘Bhairav’ light commando battalions, ‘Shaktibaan’ artillery regiments and ‘Divyastra’ batteries, drone-equipped infantry battalions and indigenous air defence systems.
• The Chief of Army Staff stressed that, given India's geographical position and the continuous hostile environment along its borders, the Army Air Defence is being provided the required firepower to make it lethal with an indigenous missile system.

About Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs)

• Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) are small and quick army units. They are about the size of a brigade. These groups will help the Army fight better in modern wars. 
• They will use advanced technology for better results. Each IBG will be formed based on three things: the enemy threat, the land or terrain and the mission it has to complete.
• The first plans for IBGs suggest that they will be led by an officer of Major-General rank. Each IBG will have about 5,000 soldiers. 
• This is more than a brigade, which has around 3,000 to 3,500 troops but less than a division, which has 10,000 to 12,000 troops.

Rudra

• Under this, the army will have infantry, mechanised infantry, armoured units, artillery, special forces and unmanned aerial units in one place to provide logistics and combat support.
• These self-contained units demonstrate the capability for rapid deployment, typically within 12 to 48 hours. They are engineered for sustained operations across varied and challenging terrains, encompassing mountains, plains and Line of Control (LoC) sectors.
• Two infantry brigades situated along India's western and northern borders have successfully transitioned into Rudra brigades, validating the operational concept.

Bhairav 

• Bhairav units are characterized as highly agile and lethal special forces, designed for specialized missions.
• These agile formations are strategically embedded within infantry battalions, enhancing their overall operational flexibility.
• These units are specifically designed to effectively respond to asymmetric threats and to execute precise operations deep within contested territories.

Shaktiban Shaktibaan represents a new class of artillery regiments, fully integrated with high-caliber, long-range firepower capabilities.

• Shaktibaan represents a new class of artillery regiments, fully integrated with high-caliber, long-range firepower capabilities.
• These regiments are equipped with indigenous rocket artillery, advanced howitzers and precision-guided munitions, showcasing India's self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
• Shaktibaan regiments are purpose-built to provide robust heavy artillery cover for mobile units, including the Rudra brigades, ensuring overwhelming fire superiority.
• The introduction of Shaktibaan significantly boosts India's deterrence posture and strengthens battlefield dominance through concentrated, mobile firepower.

Divyastra

• Divyastra encompasses a family of advanced loitering munitions (LMs) specifically engineered for precision strikes against high-value enemy targets, such as bunkers, radar stations and armored vehicles.
• Upon launch, these drones exhibit the capability to loiter in designated airspaces, autonomously identifying targets through onboard sensors or external guidance. 
• They subsequently self-destruct upon impact, delivering an explosive payload with high accuracy.

Source:

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rudra-all-arms-brigades-will-make-army-future-ready-gen-dwivedi-10152159/ https://www.theweek.in/news/defence/2025/07/26/shaktiban-regiment-of-indian-army-what-it-is-what-will-it-do.html  

Review Link

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jul/26/indian-army-to-raise-all-arms-brigade-rudra-light-commando-battalions-bhairav https://www.theweek.in/news/defence/2025/07/26/shaktiban-regiment-of-indian-army-what-it-is-what-will-it-do.html