India's armed forces roll out cyber doctrine, eye deeper industry tie-ups

The declassified document, released by Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, stresses that the complexity of modern cyber threats — spanning espionage, electromagnetic interference, and even influence operations in the cognitive domain — demands a coordinated approach to building capabilities.

India’s armed forces have introduced a new Joint Doctrine for Cyberspace Operations that places public-private partnership (PPP) at the centre of their cyber strategy and aiming to harness private-sector expertise to strengthen national security and bolster cyber defences.

The declassified document, released by Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, stresses that the complexity of modern cyber threats — spanning espionage, electromagnetic interference, and even influence operations in the cognitive domain — demands a coordinated approach to building capabilities.

A key pillar of the doctrine is “strengthening public-private partnership,” with a call for structured collaboration between the military, private companies, research organisations, and academic institutions to deliver robust digital solutions for the armed forces.

The policy outlines plans to “encourage and facilitate indigenous startups and enterprises” and work closely with industry and academia to co-create platforms and solutions aimed at enhancing the military’s cyber security posture.

Although the armed forces already work extensively with private firms — many of which supply offensive and defensive cyber tools in active use — the new doctrine signals a shift from conventional procurement toward deeper integration. This could involve joint development, co-design, and operational collaboration with private cyber specialists.

It also envisions tapping talent from universities, fostering co-developed platforms, and building capabilities in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Ensuring secure, homegrown supply chains for IT products is a priority, with the ultimate goal of making indigenous technology the backbone of military cyber systems.