Listen "“Indian Intelligence & Cyber” – A Conversation with Sameer Patil, ORF Mumbai"
Episode Synopsis
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 Learn
Intelligence
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!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 Learn
Intelligence
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!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More episodes of the podcast SpyCast
Auctioning Off the Key to Kryptos
09/12/2025
An Interview with the CIA’s Former “Q”
02/12/2025
The Hunt for China’s Spy Family
18/11/2025
A Family of Spies and a Bloodline of Secrets
11/11/2025
The Lumumba Plot: Cold War in the Congo
28/10/2025
Opening the Foreign Influence Toolkit
14/10/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.