SRMIST And OTA Confer First Diplomas In Information Technology And Cyber Security

The SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) marked a significant milestone on March 3, 2026, as the first batch of 350 officer cadets graduated from the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, with a Diploma in Information Technology and Cyber Security. The diploma programme is the result of a unique academic partnership between SRMIST and OTA under a Memorandum of Understanding, reflecting the growing emphasis on integrating technological expertise with military training. Among the graduates, 29 were female cadets and 321 were male, including 16 rank holders who demonstrated academic excellence.

The one-year diploma is designed to equip future military leaders with advanced skills in information technology, cyber security, and digital defence. As modern warfare increasingly incorporates technological and cyber domains, programmes like this aim to enhance India’s digital resilience and warfighting capabilities. The curriculum balances technical knowledge with operational applications, preparing cadets for the evolving demands of national security.

Offered by SRMIST’s Faculty of Science and Humanities, the diploma covers secure systems design, cyber hygiene, network security, incident response, artificial intelligence applications, cyber warfare, and information assurance. The course combines classroom instruction, projects, laboratory exercises, and continuous assessments based on real-world operational scenarios. Its flexible structure accommodates the rigorous training schedule of OTA cadets, ensuring academic rigour alongside military commitments.

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Lt. Gen. Michael A.J. Fernandez, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Commandant of OTA, highlighted the programme’s significance, noting that structured IT and cyber education enhances cadets’ professional competence in the contemporary digital battlespace. SRMIST Vice Chancellor Prof. C. Muthamizhchelvan emphasized that security in the modern era extends beyond physical borders, asserting that “the security of India is managed as much through a computer screen as it is on the ground.”

The graduation ceremony, attended by SRMIST Registrar Dr. S. Ponnusamy, Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. A. Vinay Kumar, and senior OTA officers, celebrated the cadets’ achievement and the strategic importance of the diploma. Certificates were jointly endorsed by SRMIST and OTA, underscoring the collaborative nature of the programme.

The successful completion of this diploma marks a significant step in SRMIST’s commitment to national capacity-building and its contribution to developing technologically proficient military leaders ready to face contemporary security challenges.

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