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Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan formally released the declassified versions of the Joint Doctrine for Cyberspace Operations and the Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations during the Chiefs of Staff Committee meeting held in New Delhi on August 7.
The Joint Doctrine for Cyberspace Operations, initially introduced on June 19, 2024, comes at a time when cyber warfare has emerged as a decisive domain in modern military strategy. Its declassification reflects the growing significance of cyberspace as a warfighting frontier, particularly in light of China’s rapidly expanding cyber warfare and espionage capabilities.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said, “The declassification of these doctrines underscores India’s commitment to enhance visibility, accessibility, and wider dissemination of joint warfighting concepts.”
The cyberspace doctrine lays out a comprehensive framework for securing national cyber interests through a blend of offensive and defensive capabilities. It focuses on threat-informed planning, building operational resilience, real-time intelligence integration, and the development of joint cyber warfare capabilities across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Also Read: CDS Unveils Armed Forces Joint Doctrine for Cyberspace Operations
Meanwhile, the Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations, which the CDS released on September 9, 2024, outlines the strategy for coordinated amphibious missions involving maritime, air, and land forces. It emphasises joint force interoperability, rapid response capabilities, and effective application of combat power to influence operations ashore.
Also Read: CDS General Chauhan Releases Joint Doctrine For Amphibious Warfare
As part of a broader doctrinal push, the CDS has also initiated the formulation of several other joint doctrines and primers covering key areas such as Military Space Operations, Special Forces Operations, Airborne/Heliborne Missions, Integrated Logistics, and Multi-Domain Operations, according to the statement. These are aimed at providing policymakers, planners, and commanders with a common vocabulary and framework for executing seamless and integrated military operations.
The new joint doctrines can be accessed at: https://ids.nic.in/content/doctrines
China’s advancements in cyber warfare, ranging from the development of digital weapons capable of disabling or destroying an adversary’s strategic networks to targeting civilian infrastructure such as energy, banking, transportation, and communication systems, have starkly highlighted the urgency for India to strengthen its own capabilities. India’s 2019 decision to establish a tri-service Defence Cyber Agency has been widely seen as falling short of the dedicated Cyber Command envisioned initially by the armed forces.
In this context, the declassified doctrine represents a “significant step” towards deeper integration of cyber operations within India’s joint military framework, according to the Ministry of Defence. It provides vital conceptual guidance to commanders and staff for effective planning and execution of cyberspace operations, while also promoting cyber awareness among war fighters at all levels.
Team BharatShakti
