India, Feb. 24 -- There are few things that have transformed as much in the 21st century as terrorism. Contemporary terror networks often operate as decentralised, digitally connected ecosystems. Encrypted messaging allows operatives to coordinate across borders. Recruitment and indoctrination occur online through videos, reels and gaming. Social media enables propaganda to spread at scale and at speed. Cryptocurrencies and informal digital channels facilitate funding flows that are harder to trace. Drones and commercially available technologies lower the cost and complexity of carrying out attacks. It's cheaper than ever to deploy malware and paralyse countries.

Against this backdrop, India's first national counterterrorism policy and s...