India to deploy Integrated Battle Groups along Pakistan, China borders

In a first-of-its-kind initiative along the country's western borders with Pakistan and the northern border with China, India could soon have Integrated Battle Groups in the next couple of months.

The Integrated Battle Groups will replace the division formation in the Indian Army. 

An Integrated Battle Group, headed by a Major-General rank officer, are lethal, brigade-sized, agile and self-sufficient combat formations.

The order in this regard is likely to be out by October this year, government sources said, adding that the Integrated Battle Groups will change the way troops engage in conventional warfare. 

These Integrated Battle Groups will be raised under 9 Corps on the western border and 17 Corps on the northern border. 

The 17 Corps will have four Integrated Battle Groups under them while three will be under the 9 Corps, the source said. 

Each Integrated Battle Group will have around 5,000 troops, which is bigger than a brigade (3,000-3,500 troops) but smaller than a division (10,000-12,000 soldiers) and has a varying mix of infantry, artillery, armoured, air defence, engineers, signals and other units permanently deployed together.

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