Following the high-profile Operation Sindoor in May 2025, during which India executed coordinated missile and drone strikes—showcasing indigenous platforms such as BrahMos, Akash, and the S-400 air defense system—the Indian security establishment is now debating the merits and modalities of a centralized Indian Rocket Force (IRF). While Pakistan’s rapid announcement of its Army Rocket Force Command (ARFC), modelled on China’s centralized People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, has injected urgency into these discussions, Indian analysts caution against simply replicating adversary structures without a thorough strategic rationale. Presently, India’s missile assets—including BrahMos, Prithvi, Pralay, and Pinaka—are distributed across the Strategic Forces Command (for nuclear deterrence) and individual services, a structure supporting both flexibility and service-specific doctrines. The proposed IRF would unify conventional missile assets under a joint command led by the Chief of Defence Staff to enhance rapid response and integrated operations, but there are concerns regarding doctrinal clarity, inter-service coordination, and technological integration. Experts argue India’s context—marked by its evolving theaterisation reforms, indigenous missile advances, and the operational lessons from Operation Sindoor—warrants a tailored approach rather than a knee-jerk reaction to Pakistan’s or China’s moves; retaining the current disposition may in fact preserve operational advantages and avoid unnecessary duplication. The debate remains vigorous as India weighs the merits of centralization against the need for adaptive, future-ready force structures while advancing its commitment to self-reliance and credible deterrence.