India’s Defence Cyber Agency, under the aegis of the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, initiated its multi-phase cyber security exercise, ‘Cyber Suraksha’, on June 16, 2025. Designed to elevate national cyber readiness, the two-week exercise will run until June 27 and includes a blend of hands-on training, technical drills, and leadership modules for more than 100 participants from national defense and cybersecurity agencies.
The exercise replicates real-world threat scenarios to test and sharpen participants’ cyber defense capabilities in a dynamic, gamified environment. Structured learning is paired with rigorous simulations, emphasizing rapid decision-making and secure practices in high-pressure settings. A Chief Information Security Officers conclave is embedded within the exercise, where key figures engage in strategy talks and conclude with an immersive Table-Top Exercise focused on crisis response and coordination.
‘Cyber Suraksha’ reflects India’s evolving defense doctrine that now incorporates proactive cybersecurity readiness. Officials stated that such exercises will become a routine part of national preparedness, fostering a security-first culture across technical and leadership ranks. The initiative marks another step in strengthening India’s digital defense infrastructure amid increasing global cyber threats.
