New Delhi: The Central Government is finalizing a comprehensive policy that will introduce standardized rules for the use of digital devices within India’s security and intelligence agencies, officials said on Tuesday. This move aims to bolster national security by countering rising threats of digital espionage and safeguarding sensitive operational data across strategic establishments.
According to sources familiar with the proposal, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with active support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has been working on a robust framework that will set uniform protocols for how digital devices are issued, used, monitored, and secured across intelligence, police, paramilitary, and other security organizations.
The planned policy is driven by growing concerns that compromised or unsecured digital devices have become easy points of entry for hostile actors seeking to infiltrate secure networks or extract critical information. Security experts warn that spyware, malware, and unauthorized data access exploiting device vulnerabilities have increasingly been used by foreign-backed espionage networks and organized cybercriminal groups, posing serious risks to national security.
Officials said the new norms will restrict the use of personal smartphones or consumer gadgets in high-security operational zones, where unvetted devices could be co-opted as spyware carriers or exploited to gather intelligence. Instead, only authorized and secure devices procured through vetted supply chains will be permitted in sensitive areas.
Under the forthcoming guidelines, a centralized hardware procurement mechanism will be established to ensure that all digital devices used within security and intelligence agencies are sourced from trusted vendors with verified supply chains. This system is expected to close gaps that adversaries might exploit through third-party equipment with hidden vulnerabilities or backdoors.
In addition to hardware controls, the policy will mandate strict monitoring, auditing, and logging of digital communications on official devices. Advanced software-based firewalls and secure communication protocols are expected to become compulsory, reducing the likelihood of illicit access or data leakage.
Officials also stressed that standardized norms will govern software installation, data storage practices, and external device connectivity, enforcing disciplined digital hygiene across agencies. These measures are designed to minimize exposure to spyware, malware, unauthorized cloud backups, and other digital threats.
Sources indicate the government is keen to ensure that the new digital device regime balances operational needs with security imperatives. While personnel will continue to leverage technology for field operations, secure channels and vetted tools will be prioritised over everyday consumer devices, which can be more easily compromised.
Security agencies are also expected to receive detailed guidelines on digital behaviour and online conduct, similar to existing protocols regulating social media use by armed forces to prevent inadvertent information exposure. Such measures help maintain operational secrecy while enabling controlled, secure digital engagement.
The initiative reflects India’s broader efforts to enhance its cyber defense posture, particularly as digital threats evolve in sophistication and scale. In recent years, policy makers have grappled with the challenge of securing digital infrastructure from telecom identifiers and cybercrime prevention tools to smartphone security measures aimed at reducing fraud and unauthorized access.
By establishing cohesive device usage standards and integrating them into existing cybersecurity frameworks, authorities hope to mitigate espionage threats and improve trust in digital systems at every level of national security operations. The proposed norms are expected to be formalized and notified officially in the weeks ahead.