Defence Cyber Agency
{{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
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| image = Defence Cyber Agency.png
| image_size = 250px
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| caption = Insignia of the Defence Cyber Agency
| dates = Established: 28 September 2018
Activated: November 2019
Operational: August 2021
| country = {{flag|India}}
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| type = Integrated tri-services agency
| role = Cyber Warfare
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| command_structure = Integrated Defence Staff (IDS)
| garrison = New Delhi, India
| garrison_label = Headquarters
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| current_commander = Rear Admiral Sanjay Sachdeva
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The Defence Cyber Agency (DCyA) is an integrated tri-services agency of the Indian Armed Forces. Headquartered in New Delhi, the agency is tasked with handling 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 (CDS) through the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS).{{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}}
Indian Navy Rear Admiral Mohit Gupta was appointed in May 2019 as the first head of the DCyA.{{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}} The DCyA was expected to be operational by November 2019. As of 2021, DCyA was fully operational with Army, Air Force, and Navy establishing their respective Cyber Emergency Response Teams (CERT).{{Cite web|date=2021-08-04|title='GOI in final stage of formulating National Cyber Security strategy'|url= https://in.news.yahoo.com/centre-approves-establishment-defence-cyber-164629823.html}}
History
The Naresh Chandra Task Force was set up in July 2011 by 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.{{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}}{{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}} 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.{{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}} 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.{{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}}{{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}}
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 Air Force Station on 28 September 2018.{{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}} The existing Defence Information Assurance and Research Agency was upgraded to form the new Defence Cyber Agency.{{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}}
Area of responsibility
The Week reported that the DCyA would have the capability to hack into networks, mount surveillance operations, lay honeypots, recover deleted data from hard drives and cellphones, break into encrypted communication channels, and perform other complex objectives.{{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}} 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.{{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}}
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
- Indian Nuclear Command Authority, Strategic Forces Command
- Defence Space Agency
- Special Operations Division
; Assets
- List of Indian Air Force stations
- List of Indian Navy bases
- List of active Indian Navy ships
- India's overseas military bases
; General concepts
- Joint warfare, general concept
- Credible minimum deterrence
- List of cyber warfare forces of other nations