Parivartan Chintan

Why in news?

• The Tri-service Conference, ‘Parivartan Chintan’, was held in New Delhi.

About

• The ‘Chintan’ was curated as a brainstorming and idea incubation discussion to generate new and fresh ideas, initiatives and reforms to further propel Jointness and Integration in the Armed Forces.
• Jointness and Integration are the cornerstones of the transformation to Joint Structures which the Indian Armed forces are progressing towards with the intention of being “Future Ready”.

Theatre Command

• A theatre command deploys elements of the three services i.e. the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force under a single, unified command structure.
• Each command is assigned a specific geographical region, combining resources of the three services for operational roles.
• There will be two land-based commands—one focused on Pakistan and the other on China—and a third maritime one, overseeing the Indian Ocean Region.
• The three theatre commands that will be set up first are likely to be located in Jaipur, Lucknow and Karwar.
• Creation of theatre commands and their structure has been under discussion for three years now.

Need for the Theatre Command

• Hostile Neighborhood: The main threat is from China, which works in collaboration with Pakistan. A two-front war is, therefore, a distinct possibility for India.
• The prospect of high technology, multi-domain warfare where adversaries are nuclear-armed requires a swift and dynamic response.
• Optimal use of Resources: The forces will be able to pool their resources efficiently, resulting in the optimum utilisation of platforms, weapon systems, and assets.
• This will also prevent resources from being allocated for duplicate purchases for the three services.
• Help in Logistics: Theatre commands, in the long run, could also improve logistics management in the forces.
• Better Coordination: Currently, India’s multiple military commands are all located in different geographical areas. This, at times, causes communication hindrances during joint operations and exercises.
• With a unified command structure, these communication processes could be simpler and more efficient.
• In Practice in other Nations: Armed forces of major military powers, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China and France all operate under theatre commands.
• Efficient Planning: Further, in the realm of policy, having a unified command structure with representatives from all three services will also lead to more efficient planning for both peacetime and wartime strategies.

Challenges in Implementation

• Difference of opinion among three forces: There are differences among the three forces on scope, structure, and control of the commands.
• Transfer of Resources: There is a contention on the kind of war-fighting equipment that will be deployed under a single command and ambiguity surrounding the transfer of weapons, platforms, and resources from one theatre command to another.
• Curriculum Framework: In terms of preparing the educational bedrock for military personnel to serve in theatre commands, the country seems to be behind the curve.
• Lack of NSS: Many retired military professionals have criticised implementing theatre commands without having a coherent National Security Strategy (NSS).
• Theatre commands will not have a clear blueprint and policy objective to work towards without an NSS.

Conclusion

India is moving towards implementing its biggest military overhaul, which could be a force multiplier, a few institutional and ideational changes will have to be incorporated to find the correct balance in such a transformation.

Given the threat India faces on its northern and western borders, integrated theatre commands and the roles assigned will be key in dealing with any future conflict.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ferry

Why in news?

• Prime Minister Modi inaugurated India’s first indigenously built hydrogen fuel cell ferry under the Harit Nauka initiative.

Harit Nauka Initiative

• In 2024, the shipping ministry unveiled the Harit Nauka guidelines for inland vessels.
• Under this initiative, all states have to make efforts to use green fuels for 50 per cent of inland waterways-based passenger fleets in the next one decade, and 100 per cent by 2045.

Hydrogen Fuel cells

• Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
• A fuel cell consists of an anode (negative electrode) and cathode (positive electrode) sandwiched around an electrolyte.
• Hydrogen is fed to the anode and air is fed to the cathode.

Working of Fuel Cell

• At the anode, a catalyst separates the hydrogen molecules into protons and electrons and both subatomic particles take different paths to the cathode.
• The electrons go through an external circuit, creating a flow of electricity that can be used to power electric motors.
• The protons, on the other hand, move to the cathode through the electrolyte. Once there, they unite with oxygen and electrons to produce water and heat.

Advantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cell

• Zero Emissions: Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity with the only byproduct being water vapor. This makes them a zero-emission source of energy, contributing to cleaner air and combating climate change.
• High Efficiency: Hydrogen fuel cells have high energy efficiency compared to internal combustion engines. They can convert fuel into electricity with efficiencies higher than 50%.
• Versatility: Hydrogen fuel cells can be used in various applications, including transportation (cars, buses, trucks), stationary power generation (backup power for buildings, remote power systems), and portable electronics (like laptops and smartphones).
• Fast Refueling: Refueling hydrogen fuel cells is typically faster than recharging batteries for electric vehicles.
• Low Environmental Impact: Hydrogen production can be environmentally friendly if generated from renewable sources or through processes that capture and store carbon emissions.

Disadvantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cell

• High Production Costs: The production of hydrogen fuel cells and the infrastructure required for hydrogen storage, transportation, and distribution is expensive.
• Limited Infrastructure: The infrastructure for hydrogen production, distribution, and refueling stations is still underdeveloped in many regions.
• Energy Intensive Production: Most of the world’s hydrogen is currently produced from natural gas through a process called steam methane reforming, which emits carbon dioxide.
• Storage Challenges: Hydrogen has a low energy density by volume, which means it requires large storage tanks or high-pressure containers to store enough hydrogen for practical use. Additionally, hydrogen molecules are small and can leak through seals and containers, posing safety risks.
• Safety Concerns: Hydrogen is highly flammable and can ignite easily in the presence of oxygen. While modern hydrogen fuel systems have safety features to mitigate these risks, concerns about the safe handling, storage, and transportation of hydrogen remain.