Institutionalization of Hybrid Warfare under PM Modi (2014-2025): A Case Study of India’s Evolving Strategic Doctrine

During the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has undergone significant and comprehensive changes in the country’s national security system. This change has been made in accordance with the new requirements and strategies of Hybrid Warfare emerging in the 21st century. Between 2014 and 2025, India has transformed its traditional defense thinking, which was largely reactive, into a coherent, systematic and effective system. This new system has integrated politics, military power, intelligence, diplomacy and communication and information strategy to formulate a comprehensive policy that aims not only to strengthen national security but also to maintain continuous psychological pressure on the adversary. The research also shows that hybrid warfare is no longer just a temporary or emergency strategy but has become a permanent part of state governance, where obtaining and using accurate, timely and effective information has become central. This paper provides a detailed overview of the recent reforms in national security institutions in India and their interrelationships. It also analyses the roles and powers of new institutions such as the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), the National Security Advisor (NSA), the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Department of Military Affairs (DMA). A study of available official documents and institutional structures shows that under the Modi government, hybrid warfare has become a comprehensive national strategy, in which the political, military and information capabilities of different spheres of the state are used in an integrated manner. As a result, hybrid warfare is no longer limited to war or emergencies but has become a permanent part of national security decisions. This is why this transformation may have profound implications for the future of peace, democratic oversight, terrorist threats and low-intensity conflicts in South Asia, hence further research on the changing concepts and practices of security in the present era is very important.