As mentioned above, cyber and information technologies have impacted national security by both
creating new dynamics as well as being new sources of vulnerabilities. However, the concept of
Cyber power itself has proved to be quite tenuous when compared with the traditional bases of
national power such as the economy, military capabilities, science and technology base, etc.
which are easier to quantify. This theme could further be analysed as follows:
a. Concepts and definitions of Cyber Power.

b. Perspectives from Major Powers on Cyber Power.

c. Strategies of Major and Middle Powers for developing and exercising Cyber Power.

d. Cyber element in the national power calculus: Present-2030.

Cyberspace has strategic implications, given its integration with the governmental apparatus
and its extensive application in the security architecture. It has also altered the existing
doctrines and strategies. Therefore, this objective deliberates on the evolving doctrines
and strategies, both from the civilian and military perspectives. The objective could
further be divided into:

a. Evolving Doctrines and Strategies amongst the major and middle powers.

b. The Impact of concepts such as Global Strikes (from the US) and Distributed Warfare (from
China) on the stability of cyberspace and security of other countries.

c. Potential of cyberspace in Asymmetric Warfare.

d. Cyber Operations as strategic tool (both Offensive and Defensive aspects/capabilities).

e. Strategic and Battlefield Imperatives.

i. Synergising India’s cyber security apparatus.

ii. Analysing correlation with military, law enforcement and counter-terrorism aspects.

iii. Raising a Cyber Command.

Cyberspace finds its origin in the military led research and development endeavours for
digital communication. Since its genesis, further development and resolution of
cybersecurity issues are also driven by R&D, which has been the key focus on the Government
of India as well. This objectives addresses the need of a cyber security R&D ecosystem in
the country, encompassing the expertise in the government, private sector and the armed
forces, drawing in key lessons from the practices and endeavours of major powers.

As South and East Asian undergo economic growth and expansion, intra-regional trade in goods
and services is deemed to increase, leading to a more integrated economic structure.
Cyber-crime is already a known and proven threat to the economic growth, where developing
and developed countries are at equal risk. A secure Cyberspace would give impetus for the
growth and rise of economic activity, securing the interests of citizens, industries and
investors.

Moving forward from the vantage point of applicability of International law on Cyberspace,
the future of cyberspace as the fifth domain of warfare has implications for international
law and norms for responsible state behaviour. In response to its potential as a means and
tools of warfare, international legal regimes have been deliberating on the needs of the
platforms and norms for responsible state behaviour. One objective, therefore, is to develop
an understanding of the domain of international law as it pertains to cybersecurity in order
to develop an Indian perspective on this pertinent theme.

A second objective is to develop a perspective on the various platforms that are being
suggested for norms development in cyberspace. Among the various platforms undertaking the
task of establishing norms in cyberspace, the UNGGE under the auspices of the 1st Committee
seemed to be making the most progress with successive reports setting out norms to secure
cyberspace. However, the failure of the UNGGE to come out with a consensus report at the end
of its deliberations highlights the fault lines that exist in both perceptions of
cybersecurity as well as the difficulties in charting a way forward amongst the various
stakeholders. Various alternate models being considered include the Financial Action Task
Force (FATF) model, Red Cross model, the IAEA model and even the Amnesty International
model.