DRDO Awards Blockchain Security Development Project to Indian Startup Zupple Labs

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has awarded an advanced cybersecurity development project to Indian technology startup Zupple Labs Private Limited for creating an indigenous security analysis and auditing platform for blockchain networks. The initiative aims to strengthen the security assessment of blockchain-based digital infrastructure intended for defence and civilian applications.

The project, titled Security Analysis and Auditing of Blockchain, was awarded on November 5, 2026, under DRDO’s Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme. The Scientific Analysis Group (SAG), a DRDO laboratory specialising in information security and related technologies, has been designated as the nodal laboratory for the programme.

The development was highlighted in reports published on November 10 and represents an important milestone for the Karnataka-based startup, which has been developing blockchain-powered digital verification and authentication solutions for government agencies and institutions.

The initiative will bring together expertise from DRDO, Indian academic institutions and the domestic startup ecosystem to develop a specialised security evaluation platform for blockchain networks.

Developing Indigenous Blockchain Security Evaluation Technology

The proposed project will focus on creating a system capable of analysing blockchain networks and identifying security weaknesses that could affect their reliability and integrity.

Blockchain technology enables information to be recorded and verified across distributed networks, with cryptographic mechanisms helping protect records against unauthorised modification. Its applications extend beyond digital currencies to include document authentication, identity verification, supply-chain management and institutional recordkeeping.

However, the use of blockchain does not automatically guarantee the security of an application.

Weaknesses in software implementations, access-control mechanisms, cryptographic procedures and network configurations can create vulnerabilities even when the underlying distributed ledger employs established security techniques.

The proposed DRDO-supported platform is intended to address these challenges by providing structured methods for evaluating blockchain systems before their deployment in sensitive environments.

According to Zupple Labs, the absence of a comprehensive indigenous framework for assessing blockchain security represents an important technological challenge as government and defence organisations explore the use of distributed digital systems.

The new project aims to develop the tools and evaluation capabilities necessary to address this requirement.

DRDO’s Scientific Analysis Group to Guide Development

DRDO’s Scientific Analysis Group has been designated as the nodal laboratory for the initiative, providing institutional expertise in cybersecurity and information assurance.

SAG works on technologies associated with cryptography, secure communications, security evaluation and the protection of sensitive information systems.

The laboratory’s involvement reflects the importance of assessing emerging digital technologies before incorporating them into applications where information integrity and system reliability are essential.

The proposed blockchain auditing platform will be developed under the Technology Development Fund scheme, which supports indigenous technologies through collaboration between DRDO and Indian industry.

Zupple Labs co-founder and CEO Neil Kevin Martis confirmed that the project agreement was signed with DRDO, with Nidhi Bansal, Outstanding Scientist and Director of the Technology Development Fund, representing the defence research organisation.

Martis described the initiative as an opportunity to develop an indigenous security capability for evaluating blockchain networks intended for critical applications.

The project remains at the development stage, and no completed auditing platform or operational deployment has been announced.

Collaboration with IISc Bengaluru and NIT Karnataka

An important aspect of the programme is the involvement of Indian academic institutions alongside DRDO and the startup.

According to Zupple Labs, researchers and academic experts from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and the National Institute of Technology Karnataka will participate in the development effort.

The collaboration will combine industrial software-development capabilities with specialised research expertise in cybersecurity, computer science and related technologies.

Such partnerships are valuable in emerging technology fields because developing reliable security evaluation systems requires both theoretical understanding and practical implementation experience.

Academic institutions can contribute research expertise, analytical methods and technical validation, while industry partners can support software engineering, integration and the development of usable platforms.

DRDO’s involvement provides a framework for aligning the technology with the requirements of security-sensitive applications.

The collaboration also illustrates the growing participation of Indian startups and educational institutions in advanced defence research programmes.

Why Blockchain Security Matters for Defence Applications

Modern defence organisations depend on complex digital systems to manage information, coordinate activities and maintain records across multiple institutions and operational environments.

Blockchain technology has attracted interest for applications requiring traceability, distributed verification and tamper-evident recordkeeping.

Potential applications include supply-chain documentation, equipment maintenance records, digital credentials, controlled information exchange and the verification of transactions between authorised organisations.

However, the security requirements of defence applications are particularly demanding.

An inadequately designed blockchain application could expose sensitive information, permit unauthorised transactions or create weaknesses in the systems connected to the distributed network.

Security auditing is therefore necessary to identify vulnerabilities and evaluate whether a proposed application meets its intended protection requirements.

A dedicated indigenous testing platform could help developers and authorised organisations assess blockchain technologies through a more systematic process.

The proposed Zupple Labs project is intended to support this evaluation capability rather than introduce a specific blockchain application into operational military use.

Zupple Labs Builds on Experience in Digital Trust Infrastructure

Zupple Labs has developed technology solutions focused on digital authentication, document verification and blockchain-supported trust infrastructure.

The company’s work includes applications associated with educational credentials, identity records, permits, government documentation and institutional verification.

Such systems are designed to help organisations establish the authenticity of digital records while reducing the risks associated with document manipulation and unauthorised changes.

The startup has previously worked on technology applications for public-sector organisations, including blockchain-supported verification systems associated with government services.

Its experience in institutional record authentication provides a foundation for developing more specialised blockchain security assessment technologies.

Zupple Labs has also participated in Karnataka’s cybersecurity startup ecosystem through the H.A.C.K. programme associated with the Centre of Excellence for Cybersecurity, known as CySecK.

The company’s selection for the DRDO programme represents an expansion from developing blockchain-enabled applications towards building technology intended to evaluate and strengthen the security of blockchain infrastructure itself.

Technology Development Fund Supports Indian Defence Startups

DRDO’s Technology Development Fund scheme is designed to encourage Indian industry, particularly startups and smaller enterprises, to participate in developing technologies relevant to national defence requirements.

The programme supports projects that seek to address identified technological challenges through domestic research, engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

By involving private companies in specialised development activities, the scheme aims to strengthen the country’s defence technology ecosystem and reduce dependence on externally sourced solutions.

The Zupple Labs project demonstrates how the programme can extend beyond conventional defence equipment into advanced software and cybersecurity technologies.

The development of indigenous security evaluation capabilities is particularly relevant as digital infrastructure becomes increasingly important to government administration, industrial systems and national security.

Such projects also create opportunities for Indian technology startups to collaborate with established research laboratories and academic institutions on challenges requiring specialised expertise.

Strengthening India’s Cybersecurity Self-Reliance

India’s increasing dependence on digital infrastructure has created a growing requirement for reliable indigenous cybersecurity tools.

Government services, financial institutions, industrial networks and strategic organisations all depend on the security and integrity of the information systems supporting their operations.

As blockchain technologies find applications in institutional verification and distributed recordkeeping, the ability to independently evaluate their security becomes increasingly important.

A domestically developed blockchain auditing platform could support Indian organisations in assessing software vulnerabilities, implementation weaknesses and other risks associated with distributed digital systems.

It could also contribute to the development of specialised expertise in security testing, cryptographic implementation and blockchain network evaluation.

According to Zupple Labs, the intellectual property generated through the DRDO-supported project will be jointly owned by the company and the defence research organisation.

This arrangement could support the continued development and application of the technology within India’s domestic cybersecurity ecosystem.

The project award marks the beginning of an indigenous development effort, with the principal technical milestones still to be achieved.

Successful development and validation of the proposed platform could provide India with an additional capability for evaluating blockchain systems intended for defence and other security-sensitive applications.

The collaboration between DRDO, Zupple Labs, IISc Bengaluru and NIT Karnataka also highlights the growing importance of partnerships between defence research establishments, academic institutions and Indian startups in building advanced technologies essential to national security and digital self-reliance.

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