Integrated Battle Groups (IBG)

About  Integrated Battle Groups (IBG)-

• The purpose of restructuring Army’s existing formations into integrated battle groups was to have forces which are lean, agile and tailor-made which would afford the commanders the flexibility and more options for their employment in the respective theatres to achieve the desired outcomes. 
• IBGs are smaller, meaner, self-contained fighting units of the Indian Army consisting of elements of air power, artillery, armour etc.
• The concept of IBG has already been test-bedded by the Army’s 9 Corps and was later validated by the 17 Mountain Strike Corps in its exercises.
• Each IBG would be tailor made based on Threat, Terrain and Task and resources will be allotted based on the three T’s. 
• The idea is for them to be light with centralised logistics and be able to mobilise within 12 -48 hrs based on the location.
• While a Command is the largest static formation of the Army spread across a defined geography, a Corps is the largest mobile formation. 
• Typically, each Corps has about three Divisions. 
• The IBGs will also be defensive and offensive in nature.
• Late Gen. Bipin Rawat as Army Chief had initiated four major studies to undertake a comprehensive transformation of the force. These include: 
  • Restructuring of Army Headquarters.
  • Force restructuring including creation of IBGs.
  • The cadre review of officers and 
  • Review of the terms and conditions of Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks. 
• The aim was holistic integration to enhance the operational and functional efficiency, optimise budget expenditure, facilitate force modernisation and address aspirations.
• After the terrorist attack on Parliament in 2001, the Army formulated a proactive doctrine known as ‘Cold Start’ to launch swift offensive but its existence was consistently denied in the past. 
• Its existence was acknowledged for the first time by Gen. Rawat in January 2017.