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The evolution of the IBG
The origins of the IBG lie in a fundamental operational problem. Traditional combined-arms divisions, which have been the default fighting formation of armies for two centuries, are manpower-intensive, headquarters-heavy, and relatively slow to mobilise. Their deployment is optimised for prolonged campaigns rather than the compressed timelines likely in future conflicts. The brigade battle groups created out of divisional resources for operations also lacked organisational cohesion.The Indian Army learnt the lesson the hard way during Operation Parakaram in 2001-02 when it took three weeks to mobilise and lost the window of opportunity and advantage of first mover against Pakistan. Consequently, the Army started functioning with division-size battle groups since 2003-04, which were planned to be progressively launched into battle to execute the Cold Start operational strategy.However, even these were too large and slow to mobilise. In 2018 General Bipin Rawat caught the bull by the horns and ordered a detailed study for evolving the IBG. In 2019 field exercises were conducted in 9 Corps in the plains and 17 Corps in mountains with experimental IBGs to test and refine the concept.Another factor driving the creation of IBGs is that India and its adversaries, China and Pakistan, are armed with nuclear weapons, precluding full-scale decisive conventional wars. Conflict will be limited in time and space, and dominated by high-end precision and lethal military technology, and rapid manoeuvre. In this context, Operation Sindoor is a classic example. In such a conflict, pre-emptive operations along disputed borders to seize territory are most likely. Executing or responding to such threats requires very agile formations. Divisions are too unwieldy and slow to respond in such conflicts.The intention is clear: reduce mobilisation time, compress the sensor-to-shooter cycle, and increase operational flexibility. The concept is sound. The challenge lies in implementation.What should the ideal Indian IBG look like?
