India, March 19 -- India's digital economy is expanding at a pace matched by very few other countries. Telcos are rolling out 5G across the nation, data centres are multiplying in key metros, and AI-driven services are driving record demand for compute power. Behind this surge stands a quieter but essential foundation: the operational technology that ensures the physical stability of India's digital networks.

While the country invests heavily in cloud security, application defence, and enterprise IT controls, the OT layer-the machinery powering the digital world-remains one of the most exposed and least governed areas.

This gap is becoming more consequential as digital dependency increases. The more India connects people, businesses, an...