New Delhi: Cyberspace has emerged as a crucial and challenging domain in modern warfare. Acknowledging the emerging cyberspace domain, India’s first joint doctrine for cyberspace operations was released on June 18 by the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan during a meeting of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

The Defence Ministry in a statement said that the joint doctrine is a keystone publication that will guide commanders of the armed forces in conducting cyberspace operations in today’s complex military operating environment.

The statement noted that unlike territorial limits in the traditional domains of warfare, such as land, sea, and air, cyberspace is a “global common and hence has shared sovereignty”.

The nation’s economy, cohesion, political decision making, and the ability to defend itself can be impacted due to hostile actions in cyberspace. “Operations in cyberspace need to be dovetailed into the national security fabric, to evolve the ‘ends,’ ‘ways’ and ‘means’ to create advantage and influence events in all other operational environments and across all instruments of power,” the statement added.

 

The Defence Ministry said, “This doctrine lays emphasis on understanding military aspects of cyberspace operations and provides conceptual guidance to commanders, staff and practitioners in the planning, and conduct of operations in cyberspace, as also to raise awareness in our warfighters at all levels.”