In keeping with the fast developing world of technological warfare, the Indian Army at the nation’s premier military institute, Officers Training Academy (OTA) in conjunction with the leading educational institute SRM Institute of Science and Technology inked a MOU to give a diploma in IT and Cyber Security to the Army officer cadets and the first, 345 Indian Army officer-cadets were given cyber security certification after an intensive course.
The OTA is a premier military institute that moulds civilian youth (men and women) into officers of the Indian Army for the Short Service Commission. As part of India’s military diplomacy efforts, the OTA also trains personnel from India’s friendly foreign nations.
The 345 men and women officer-cadets of the Indian Army successfully completed their year-long ab-initio military training at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The OTA’s passing out parade on March 7 was a historic one, as the passing out officer-cadets had not just aced their basic military training, but had also earned their certification in Information Technology and Cyber Security.
“We are the first such pre-commissioning training institution of the Indian Army to implement this certification in IT and Cyber Security,” said Lieutenant General Michael Fernandez, Commandant, OTA.
This is a new specialised academic programme introduced for Indian Army officer cadets to prepare them for modern technology driven warfare.
The cadets who successfully complete this course are given diploma in IT and Cyber Security.
OTA also trains personnel from India’s friendly foreign nations. Two officers each from Bhutan and Tanzania were trained in the latest batch.
The gruelling year-long course at the OTA imparts theoretical and practical training across disciplines, including international relations, military history, weapon training, map reading, field engineering, physical training, survival training, administration, etc.
In order to integrate technological competence with military training, the OTA partnered with the SRM Institute of Technology (SRMIST) to offer a Diploma in IT and Cyber Security to the budding Army officers. Curated specifically for the OTA officer-cadets, the one-year course delivered by SRMIST faculty focused on the fundamentals of IT, network security, secure systems design, cyber hygiene, incident response, and emerging areas such as cyber warfare, AI applications, and information assurance. The diploma course curriculum included classroom sessions, lab work, exercises, projects, and continuous assessments designed around realistic operational scenarios, officials said.
Addressing the passing out parade, Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Army’s Western Command, said that countries are increasingly relying on force to address their security concerns amid today’s fragmented and volatile world. The salience of military power is only increasing.
India is faced with its own set of security challenges. On the Northern front (with China), seemingly, there is an improvement, but the situation still remains fragile. On the Western front (with Pakistan), their military leadership, which is ruling the country, wants to continue a state of constant confrontation to maintain its own relevance.
“Our response in Operation Sindoor (against Pakistan) was just, calculated, and punitive. We hit terror bases along the border and destroyed military bases deep inside their heartland. We aim for peace but must remain operationally prepared to deal with adverse situations. Next time around, our response is going to be much more harsh, severe, and lethal,” assured Lt Gen Katiyar.
“God willing, you could be the ones delivering it,” he told the newly commissioned officers.
This is part of the several cyber-security certification and training programmes to build a cadre of “cyber warriors” capable of defending military networks and conducting cyber operations. These programmes are usually conducted in collaboration with universities, institutes and cyber security research hubs rather than a single public certificate open to everyone.
– The writer is a senior journalist and media consultant. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda.
