Indian Army’s Central Command partners with IIT Kanpur to boost cybersecurity training

India’s Central Command has signed a MoU with IIT Kanpur’s C3iHub to launch a cybersecurity training initiative that strengthens the Army’s preparedness for rapidly evolving digital threats.

Under the collaboration, Army personnel will undergo structured training delivered by C3iHub, a cybersecurity research and innovation center at IIT Kanpur.

The program includes two three-month modules focused on core cyber defense practices, emerging threat patterns, incident response systems and the fundamentals required to secure military networks.

Officials said the training is intended to help strengthen the Army’s digital defence posture, particularly in operationally sensitive areas that fall under the Central Command.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Lt Gen Naveen Sachdeva, Chief of Staff at HQ Surya Command, and Prof Somitra Sanadhya, Programme Director at C3iHub. The agreement was executed by Dr Tanima Hajra, CEO of C3iHub.

“This collaboration is a testament to C3iHub’s core mission of translating cutting-edge cybersecurity research into practical, mission-critical capabilities that directly strengthen national defence,” said Prof Sanadhya.

“We are proud and fully committed to serving the nation by equipping our armed forces with the knowledge and skills needed to prevail in the digital battlespace,” she added.

The training will expose Army personnel to modern tools, global best practices and frameworks used to detect and respond to cyber intrusions.

It also supports the Army’s shift toward integrated training systems where digital competencies are prioritized alongside traditional combat skills.

The initiative is expected to add momentum to the Army’s broader cyber readiness strategy as digital threats grow in scale and complexity across national security domains.