Forum on
Digital Statecraft
Examining the Battles Across Information Warfare and Strategic Influence in the Digital Age.
Constitution Club
Rafi Marg, New Delhi
Event Timing
11:00 AM — 05:30 PM
Key Focus
Cognitive Security
The New Digital Battleground
India's strategic position and rapidly growing digital ecosystem have created a complex and contested information environment. The expansion of Digital Public Infrastructure has transformed how information is produced and consumed, increasing exposure to targeted manipulation.
State and non-state actors across the Indo-Pacific are deploying sophisticated information warfare tactics—from coordinated disinformation to AI-driven influence operations. These activities aim to reshape public perception and undermine institutional trust.
"The Forum aims to strengthen national cognitive resilience through evidence-based research and interdisciplinary analysis."
Strategic Objectives
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Map India's information warfare landscape through three complementary research studies.
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Identify strategic, cognitive, and diplomatic vulnerabilities affecting national security.
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Generate actionable recommendations for strengthening India's digital leadership.
Three Pillars of Investigation
Global Cyber Governance
Analysing India's diplomatic posture and role in shaping norms around digital sovereignty, cyber stability, and responsible state behaviour.
Distinguished Panelists
Purushendra Singh
Associate Director, CUTS Global Affairs
Dr. Ulupi Borah
Distinguished Fellow, CENJOWS
Dr. Samir Bhattacarya
Associate Fellow, Observer Research Foundation
Jyoti Panday
Regional Director, Asia (India) Internet Governance Project
Amrita Choudhury
Director of CCAOI, Advisor YIGF India
Subimal Bhattacharjee
Independent Consultant
Dr. Shahid Siddiqui
Editor in Chief, World Affairs
Weaponising the Mind
Examining psychological manipulation, cognitive attacks, and how narratives and identity-based mobilisation distort public perception.
Distinguished Panelists
Prateek Joshi
PhD Scholar, University of Oxford
Air Marshal GS Bedi (Retd)
Former Director General, Indian Air Force
Mohd. Ujaley
Editorial Director, Tech Observer Magazine
Dr. Ila Joshi
Assistant Professor, JIIT
Dr. Madhukar Shyam
Assistant Professor, Christ University
FIMI Disinformation
Mapping Foreign Interference and Manipulation of Information (FIMI) networks, cross-border coordination, and content amplification.
Distinguished Panelists
Dr. Ankita Dutta
Assistant Professor, JNU
Dr. Sriparna Pathak
Professor, OP Jindal Global University
Shantanu Bansal
Founder, IADN
Brig Anshuman Narang (Retd)
Founder, Atma Nirbhar Soch Think Tank
Dr. Kumari Mansi
Assistant Professor, Amity University
Event Schedule
Registration & Welcome Tea
Opening Remarks
Sagar Vishnoi
Director, Future Shift Labs
Chief Guest's Address
Ms. Revathi Mannepalli
India's Representative to the ITU
Context Setting
Prof. Rahul Tripathi
Goa University
India's Cyber Governance Diplomacy
Focusing on India's Cyber Diplomacy Architecture (MEA, CERT-In, NIC, NCIIPC) and role in global norm-shaping.
Strategic Influence in the Digital Age
How India Shapes Global Norms & Regional Power Dynamics.
Mr. Subimal Bhattacharjee
Mr. Purushendra Singh, Dr. Ulupi Borah, Dr. Samir Bhattacharya, Ms. Jyoti Panday, Ms. Amrita Choudhury, Dr. Shahid Siddiqui
Keynote Address
Shri Sujeet Kumar
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Weaponising Minds
Examination of cognitive warfare techniques, psychological operations, and AI-assisted influence activities.
The Cognitive Battlefield
Understanding Influence Architecture, Social Fractures & Vulnerabilities in India's Information Space.
Mr. Prateek Joshi
Air Marshal GS Bedi (Retd), Mohd. Ujaley, Dr. Ila Joshi, Dr. Madhukar Shyam
FIMI Disinformation Threat
Presentation of Pakistan's FIMI ecosystem, coordinated foreign influence operations & India's current response gaps.
The Foreign Hand in the Digital Age
Lessons from Operation Sindoor for Strengthening India's Defences.
Dr. Kumari Mansi
Dr. Ankita Dutta, Dr. Sriparna Pathak, Shantanu Bansal, Brig. Anshuman Narang (Retd)