“Indian Intelligence & Cyber” – A Conversation with Sameer Patil, ORF Mumbai

Summary

Sameer Patil (Twitter; Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss intelligence and cybersecurity in the world’s most populous nation. He formerly worked in the NSC Secretariat in the Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi. 

What You’ll LearnIntelligence

• Cybersecurity in the world’s largest democracy
• The breakdown of India’s intelligence agencies
• Cybersecurity among the world’s second largest internet user base
• India’s relationships with China and Pakistan

Reflections

• Imperial legacies
• Borders of the mind

Guest Bio

Sameer Patil is a senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, where he is an expert on the intersection between cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and national security. Previously, he served as the Assistant Director of the National Security Council Secretariat at the Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi. He has a PhD in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, and is the author of the 2022 book Securing India in the Cyber Era.

Quote of the Week

"So, it's a very unique relationship because if you see both the countries, uh, in a sense emerged as modern nation states at around the same time. India attended independence in 1947 the Chinese Communist party emerged victory years from a protracted civil war. In 1949 and. Initial periods of both the countries, as modern nation states were very cordial relationship, very friendly relationship in fact, we had a very populous slogan at that time, which is known as “Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai,” which means India, China, Brothers - Indians and Chinese are brothers together. But by the late 1950s, many of the issues started to unravel." – Sameer Patil.

Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*

• “Intelligence & the World’s Largest Democracy” - Indian Spy Chief Vikram Sood (2021)
• “Afghanistan, the Mujahedeen, Al Qaeda” – My Time at CIA & State with Diana Bolsinger (2021)

Beginner Resources

• Cyber War: How Prepared is India? WION (2022) [Video]
• India’s Rise in Cybersecurity Incidents, The Print (2022) [Video]
• The Entire History of India in Under 10 Minutes, Made in History (2022) [Video]
• Cybersecurity in 7 Minutes, Simplilearn (2021) [Video] 
• India Profile: Timeline, BBC (2019) [Article]
• The Indus Valley Civilization, J. Green, PBS (n.d.) [Video]

DEEPER DIVE*Featured Resource*

• Securing India in the Cyber Era, S. Patil (Routledge, 2022)

*Wildcard Resource(s)*

• “The James Bond of India”
• Real-life spy Ajit Doval who spent years undercover in Pakistan
• He is currently the National Security Advisor of India!