India To Set Up New Tri-Service Agencies In Field Of Cyber Warfare, Space And Special Operations

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is likely to get three new agencies to tackle increasing provocations in the cyber world, space and a special operations team for external contingencies, reports The Indian Express. The MoD announced the formation in July.

“The new Defence Minister is also keen on seeing them through, and we are just awaiting requisite approvals from the Law Ministry and other government departments,” said an official source to the Indian Express.

According to the report, the proposals for the three new formations — Defence Cyber Agency, Defence Space Agency and a Special Operations Division — are with other ministries for approval as the resources for them have to come from “accretion and not under save-and-raise”.

The report further said that the cyber and space agencies would have their headquarters in Delhi. Special Operations Division may have its office outside Delhi.

The Special Operations Division will have components of the Special Forces of the Army, Navy and Indian Air Force, and will be equipped and trained together for various external contingencies.

It also adds that the Defence Cyber Agency will employ over 1,000 personnel, and it will work in close tandem with the National Cyber Security Advisor. The Defence Space Agency will recruit 200 personnel who will coordinate with ISRO and DRDO.