KrystleZiemba7 at 14:38, 24 November 2025

2025-11-24T14:38:25Z

New page

{{Short description|Command of the Indian Armed Forces}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2023}}
{{Dmy|date=October 2023}}{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Defence Cyber Agency
| native_name =
| image = Defence Cyber Agency.png
| image_size = 250px
| alt =
| caption = [[Insignia]] of the '''Defence Cyber Agency'''
| dates = Established: 28 September 2018<br />Activated: ''November 2019''<br />Operational: ''August 2021''
| country = {{flag|India}}
| allegiance =
| branch =
| type = [[Indian Armed Forces Tri-Service Commands|Integrated tri-services agency]]
| role = [[Cyberwarfare|Cyber Warfare]]
| size =
| command_structure = [[Integrated Defence Staff]] (IDS)
| garrison = [[New Delhi]], India
| garrison_label = Headquarters
| nickname = DCyA
| motto = {{lang|sa|sevahāyate tu hanti duṣkṛtām}}
| colors = 
| colors_label = 
| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| battles =
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
| battle_honours_label =
| website = 
| current_commander = [[Rear admiral|Rear Admiral]] Sanjay Sachdeva
| commander1 =
| commander1_label =
| commander2 =
| commander2_label =
| commander3 =
| commander3_label =
| commander4 =
| commander4_label =
| commander5 =
| commander5_label =
| commander6 =
| commander6_label =
| commander7 =
| commander7_label =
| commander8 =
| commander8_label =
| commander9 =
| commander9_label =
| notable_commanders = 
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label =
| identification_symbol_2 =
| identification_symbol_2_label =
| identification_symbol_3 =
| identification_symbol_3_label =
| identification_symbol_4 =
| identification_symbol_4_label =
| identification_symbol_5 =
| identification_symbol_5_label =
}}

The '''Defence Cyber Agency''' ('''DCyA''') is an [[Indian Armed Forces Tri-Service Commands|integrated tri-services agency]] of the [[Indian Armed Forces]]. Headquartered in [[New Delhi]], the agency is tasked with handling [[Computer security|cyber security]] threats. The DCyA draws personnel from all three branches of the Armed Forces. The head of the DCyA is an officer of [[two-star rank]], and reports to the [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]] (CDS) through the [[Integrated Defence Staff]] (IDS).<ref>{{cite web |title=India setting up tri-service commands for special forces, cyber security, and space {{!}}Jane's 360 |url=https://www.janes.com/article/88569/india-setting-up-tri-service-commands-for-special-forces-cyber-security-and-space |website=www.janes.com |access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref>

[[Indian Navy]] [[Rear admiral|Rear Admiral]] Mohit Gupta was appointed in May 2019 as the first head of the DCyA.<ref>{{cite web |title=India set to have Defence Cyber Agency in May; Rear Admiral Mohit to be its first chief |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/india-set-to-have-defence-cyber-agency-in-may-rear-admiral-mohit-to-be-its-first-chief20190430102739/ |website=ANI |access-date=12 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref> The DCyA was expected to be operational by November 2019.<ref name="TOI1"/> As of 2021, DCyA was fully operational with Army, [[Indian Air Force|Air Force]], and Navy establishing their respective Cyber Emergency Response Teams (CERT).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-08-04 |title='GOI in final stage of formulating National Cyber Security strategy' |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/goi-national-cyber-security-strategy-1502990178.html |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
The Naresh Chandra Task Force was set up in July 2011 by [[National Security Advisor (India)|National Security Advisor]] [[Shivshankar Menon]] to review the recommendations of the [[Kargil Review Committee]], assess the implementation progress, and suggest new reforms related to national security.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Joshi |first1=Manoj |title=Shutting his ears to change |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/opinion/manoj-joshi/story/national-security-naresh-chandra-gom-manmohan-singh-cabinet-committee-on-security-ministry-of-defence-chandra-committee-iaf-army-218292-2013-11-22 |website=India Today |access-date=12 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsis.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/PR140301_The_Unending_Quest_to_Reform_India_National_Security_System.pdf|title=Policy Report: The Unending Quest to Reform India National Security System|last=Joshi|first=Manoj|date=March 2014|website=S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) (www.rsis.edu.sg)|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref> The task force was led by [[Naresh Chandra]], a retired [[Indian Administrative Service]] officer, and comprised 13{{Nbsp}}other members, including [[Gopalaswami Parthasarathy]], Air Chief Marshal [[Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy]] (retired), Admiral [[Arun Prakash]] (retired), Lieutenant General [[V. R. Raghavan]] (retired), [[Anil Kakodkar]], [[K. C. Verma]], and [[V. K. Duggal]]. The committee conducted the first holistic review of national security since the Kargil Review Committee and submitted its classified report to Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] on 23{{Nbsp}}May{{Nbsp}}2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=All eyes on Naresh Chandra report on natl security today |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/naresh-chandra-task-force-to-recommend-permanent-head-chiefs-of-staff-committee/20120523.htm |website=Rediff |access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref> Among its recommendations, the Task Force recommended the creation of a cyber command (DCyA), an aerospace command and a special operations command. All three units were proposed to be tri-service commands in order to bring the various special forces units of the military under a unified command and control structure.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kanwal |first1=Gurmeet |last2=Kohli |first2=Neha |title=Defence Reforms: A National Imperative |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/book-defence-reform-3.pdf |website=Brookings |access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Formation of Indian armed forces' special operations unit begins, to have 3000 commandos |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/may/16/formation-of-indian-armed-forces-special-operations-unit-begins-to-have-3000-commandos-1977651.html |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref>

The creation of the Defence Cyber Agency (DCyA), the [[Defence Space Agency]] (DSA), and the [[Armed Forces Special Operations Division]] (AFSOD) was approved by Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] during the Combined Commanders' Conference at [[Jodhpur Airport|Jodhpur Air Force Station]] on 28 September 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Apr 30 |first1=ANI {{!}} Updated |title=India set to have Defence Cyber Agency in May; Rear Admiral Mohit Gupta to be its first chief |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-set-to-have-defence-cyber-agency-in-may-rear-admiral-mohit-gupta-to-be-its-first-chief/articleshow/69107951.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=12 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref> The existing Defence Information Assurance and Research Agency was upgraded to form the new Defence Cyber Agency.<ref name="TOI1">{{cite news |last1=P |first1=Rajat |title=Agencies take shape for special operations, space, cyber war|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-begins-setting-up-new-tri-service-agencies-to-handle-special-operations-space-and-cyberspace/articleshow/69346012.cms |website=The Times of India |date=16 May 2019 |access-date=12 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

On 7 August 2025, the [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]] [[General (India)|General]] [[Anil Chauhan]] and Secretary of Department of Military Affairs released the "Joint Doctrine for Cyberspace Operations" and "Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations" during the Chiefs of Staff Committee meeting in New Delhi. While the former aims to defend national cyberspace interests through integrated offensive-defensive capabilities, real-time intelligence and joint cyber force development, the latter is meant to enable coordinated maritime-air-land operations for power projection ashore through interoperability, rapid response and joint force application.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=CDS formally releases declassified versions of Joint Doctrines for Cyberspace Operations & Amphibious Operations |date=2025-08-07 |publisher=[[Press Information Bureau]] |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2153626 |access-date=2025-09-01 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Shivani |date=2025-08-08 |title=Defence Chief releases declassified doctrines on cyberspace, amphibious operations |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cds-anil-chauhan-releases-declassified-doctrines-on-cyberspace-amphibious-operations-during-the-chiefs-of-staff-committee-meeting-2768061-2025-08-08 |access-date=2025-09-01 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

==Area of responsibility==
''[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]]'' reported that the DCyA would have the capability to hack into networks, mount surveillance operations, lay [[Honeypot (computing)|honeypots]], recover deleted data from hard drives and cellphones, break into [[encrypted communication]] channels, and perform other complex objectives.<ref>{{cite web |title=Three-pronged plan |url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/current/2019/05/31/three-pronged-plan.html |website=The Week |access-date=12 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref> According to Lieutenant General [[Deependra Singh Hooda]], the DCyA would have the responsibility of framing a long-term policy for the security of military networks, including eliminating the use of foreign hardware and software in the Indian Armed Forces, and preparing a [[cyberwarfare]] doctrine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/new-defence-cyber-agency-will-have-to-work-around-stovepipes-built-by-army-navy-air-force-lt-gen-hooda-2204033.html|title=New Defence Cyber Agency Will Have to Work Around Stovepipes Built by Army, Navy & Air Force: Lt Gen Hooda|website=News18|date=26 June 2019 |access-date=2019-07-15}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of cyber warfare forces]] of other nations

; Integrated entities

* [[Defence Planning Committee]], tri-services command at policy level with NSA as its chief
* [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)]], professional head of the Indian Armed Forces
* [[Integrated Defence Staff]], tri-services command at strategic level composed of MoD, MEA and tri-services staff
* [[Indian Armed Forces Tri-Service Commands]]
** [[Northern Theatre Command (India)]]
** [[Western Theatre Command (India)]]
** [[Maritime Theatre Command]]
** [[Air Defence Command (India)]]
** [[Strategic Forces Command]], nuclear command of India
*** [[Nuclear Command Authority (India)|Indian Nuclear Command Authority]], Strategic Forces Command
** [[Defence Space Agency]]
** [[Armed Forces Special Operations Division|Special Operations Division]]

; Assets

* [[List of Indian Air Force stations]]
* [[List of Indian Navy bases]]
* [[List of active Indian Navy ships]]
* [[List of countries with overseas military bases#India|India's overseas military bases]]

; General concepts

* [[Joint warfare]], general concept
* [[Credible minimum deterrence]]
* [[List of cyber warfare forces]] of other nations

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Military of India}}

[[Category:Military of India| ]]
[[Category:Ministry of Defence (India)]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 2018]]
[[Category:2018 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Joint military units and formations of India]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 2018]]

Defence Cyber Agency - Revision history

KrystleZiemba7 at 14:38, 24 November 2025