Cyber Technological Paradigms and Threat Landscape in India

The Institute for Public Diplomacy warmly congratulates Dr. Ramnath Reghunadhan, Member of the Science Council (since 2021), on the publication of his new book, Cyber Technological Paradigms and Threat Landscape in India.

This timely and insightful work makes a significant contribution to the study of technological governance, cybersecurity, and cyber diplomacy, particularly within the Indian context.

The book provides a historical and chronological understanding of cyber threats across the world, and their impact on the nation-states. It places the cyber technological paradigms and platforms in various theoretical frameworks.

The core section of the book deals with the cyber technological paradigms, i.e., governance, policing, and diplomacy in Digital India.

The scenario of artificial intelligence (AI) in India is also dealt with, comparing AI in India with those of international actors.

The book analyses in detail, the overall structural and institutional frameworks, entailing the need to leap towards what is considered as Reimagining India. It provides policy recommendations and suggestions on improving various actions, initiatives and resilience related taken in order to deal with the chaotic features of cyber technological threat landscape in India.

Contents

Introduction 1

Cyberspace and Society 3

Transformations of Cyber Threats 4

Dimensions of Cyber Threat 5

Digital India 14

Chapter Scheme 15

References 15

2 History and Evolution of Global Cyber Technological

Threat Landscape: Theoretical Dimensions 21

Introduction: Early Period (1960s–1990s) 21

Cyber Threat Landscape in the Twenty-First Century (2000s

to Present) 27

Theoretical Dimensions: Cyberspace and Security

Implications 35

International Political Economy of Cyber Threat Landscape 38

Conclusion 44

References 46

3 Digital India: Cyber Governance, Policing

and Diplomacy 57

Introduction 57

Digital India 60

Pillars of Digital India 62

Cyber Governance in Digital India 66

Prime Minister’s Office 68

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology 68

Ministry of Agriculture, & Farmers’ Welfare 69

Ministry of Commerce and Industry 70

Ministry of Communication 70

Ministry of Defence 71

Ministry of Corporate Affairs 72

Ministry of Home Affairs 72

Ministry of External Affairs 73

Ministry of Education 74

Ministry of Finance 75

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions 75

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare 76

Ministry of Labour & Employment 76

Ministry of Panchayati Raj 76

Ministry of Railways 77

Ministry of Science and Technology 77

Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship 79

Other Agencies 79

Cyber Threat Landscape in Digital India 81

Artificial Intelligence in India 84

Cyber Policing in Indian States: A Case Study in the State

of Kerala 87

General Executive 88

Crime Branch 89

Specialized Wings 91

State Crime Records Bureau Head Quarters 92

Other Departments 93

Systems & Projects 94

Cyber Diplomacy and International Cooperation 94

Conclusion 100

References 101

4 Conclusion: Reimagining India 111

Introduction 111

Reimagining India: Policy Recommendations

and Suggestions 113

Conclusion 119

References 119

Appendix I: Digital India Initiatives 121

Appendix II: Chronological Order of Policies, Legislations,

Regulations and Reports in Dealing with the Issue

of Cyber Technological Paradigms in India 125

Glossary 129