Chennai, 4 March 2026: In a landmark step towards building a technologically empowered officer cadre, all Officer Cadets of the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, were awarded diplomas in Information Technology and Cyber Security by SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) during a special Diploma Award Ceremony held on 03 March 2026.
This is the first time that Officer Cadets of a passing-out course at OTA Chennai have been conferred with a formal diploma in these critical domains. The programme was conducted under a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Academy and SRMIST, Chennai.
The comprehensive curriculum covered key subjects including Cyber Security, Data Protection, and IT Fundamentals, competencies described as “essential in the modern battlefield” where information dominance, network security, and digital resilience now form core operational requirements.
The diplomas were formally conferred by Dr C. Muthamizh Chelvan, Vice Chancellor, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, and Lieutenant General Michael AJ Fernandez, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Commandant, OTA Chennai.
Speaking on the occasion, senior officials highlighted that the initiative equips young officers with contemporary technological skills right at the entry level, enabling them to better understand, operate, and defend against threats in the cyber and information domains from the very beginning of their military careers.
The partnership between OTA Chennai and SRMIST reflects the Indian Army’s sustained focus on integrating cutting-edge technology education into professional military training. As hybrid and multi-domain operations become the norm, the ability to operate effectively in the digital battlespace is no longer optional but a fundamental leadership requirement.
This pioneering move at OTA Chennai, one of the Indian Army’s premier pre-commission training institutions, is expected to set a benchmark for similar academic collaborations across other military training establishments in the coming years.
The ceremony marked a proud milestone for the passing-out course, combining traditional military commissioning with recognised academic certification in emerging warfare domains, thereby producing officers who are not only tactically proficient but also digitally future-ready.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.
