In response to an escalating threat of digital espionage and device compromise, the Centre is set to introduce stringent security protocols governing the procurement, handling and use of digital hardware and personal electronic gadgets by police officers, security personnel, and intelligence agencies.
According to a top-level official aware of the development, the move is aimed at preventing hostile exploitation of devices and safeguarding hyper-sensitive operational data amid growing evidence of foreign-backed espionage networks targeting Indian personnel.
Senior officials said the upcoming framework will standardise the use of authorised devices, restrict personal gadget access in sensitive zones, and mandate advanced monitoring and auditing
of digital communications within police and paramilitary establishments and a policy or strict guidelines would be drafted and implemented soon.
Procurement of hardware will be routed through vetted supply chains, while strict guidelines will regulate software installations, data storage, and external connectivity. Officials said the measures are designed to close “critical vulnerability gaps” that have been repeatedly exploited in recent intelligence breaches.
A top security official said the emerging espionage landscape has forced a reassessment of internal digital hygiene. “We are facing a new generation of threats where a simple compromised device can expose operational grids, movement patterns, and classified strategy. Various countries have been found involved in systematic espionage attempts, including Pakistan, with the sole aim of extracting sensitive information. Our response has to be structural and uncompromising,” the official said. All the protocols and guidelines will be driven by an umbrella policy, and Meity, MHA and other ministries would play a key role, sources said.
Another senior government functionary emphasised that modern espionage relies heavily on digital infiltration rather than traditional spying methods. “The battlefield has shifted to smartphones, laptops, encrypted chats and social media platforms. Personnel, officers working in forces, agencies must understand that a personal device can become a surveillance tool in the hands of hostile agencies,” the official said, adding that enforcement would be uniform across all forces and agencies.
The tightening of digital controls follows a sweeping intelligence review after the Pahalgam attack, which triggered a high-level meeting of central intelligence agencies. State units were directed to narrow down suspects from a shared database of nearly 1,500 individuals compiled through inter-agency intelligence inputs. Government employees and security personnel came under scrutiny, leading to the identification of around 30 individuals allegedly linked to an espionage network. The intelligence was circulated to local police and enforcement bodies for corroboration and further action.
An umbrella assessment revealed that espionage operations were allegedly being orchestrated with direct backing from operatives functioning under diplomatic cover in India. Officials said officers linked to Pakistan’s intelligence establishment exploited vulnerable individuals, often luring them with small financial incentives or emotional manipulation. Several suspects were reportedly honey-trapped by women identified as Pakistani intelligence operatives and had been in contact with handlers for four to five months.
The crackdown has already prompted urgent institutional reviews. The CRPF has ordered priority scrutiny of all cases involving contact or compromise with Pakistan intelligence operatives, with mandatory 15-day review cycles to ensures continuous monitoring. A communication sent to all zone and sector commands instructed officers to submit full case details and action reports.
Two recent incidents heightened alarm within the force. A CRPF jawan was dismissed in May 2025 for allegedly concealing his marriage to a Pakistani national whose visa had expired, a case now being challenged in court. In another instance, a CRPF Assistant Sub-Inspector was arrested by the NIA over alleged honey-trap espionage and sharing classified information for payment. The NIA conducted raids across states in connection with the espionage network.
