The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has awarded Mangaluru-based Zupple Labs a project to develop security analysis and auditing standards for blockchain applications intended for defence use, marking an effort to create a formal evaluation framework for government-grade digital systems.
The project, titled ‘Security Analysis and Auditing of Blockchain’, has been awarded under DRDO’s Technology Development Fund programme. DRDO’s Scientific Analysis Group will serve as the nodal laboratory for the work, according to The Hindu BusinessLine.
The initiative is aimed at developing standards for assessing blockchain technologies before they are deployed in defence applications. Zupple Labs CEO and co-founder Neil Kevin Martis told BusinessLine that the defence sector could begin adopting blockchain for several uses over the next few years, but currently lacks a standard framework to evaluate the applications being built or deployed.
Martis said one possible use could involve tracking supply-chain items across the country through a highly secure blockchain-based application. Such systems could be relevant to government agencies that handle sensitive records, equipment, permits or logistical information and cannot operate on public blockchain networks.
Government agencies could instead use private blockchains, which can be configured as internal systems, he said. However, a proposed defence application would need to pass a series of standard tests before it could be commissioned. The project is intended to create a standardised platform through which a blockchain application can be assessed and graded for defence requirements.
The work places security evaluation at the centre of blockchain adoption. While blockchain systems are often associated with tamper-resistant records and shared verification, their use in government and defence settings requires assessment of the full application, including how data is stored, accessed, authenticated and managed. The supplied report does not specify the project’s funding value, completion deadline, testing methodology or the final form of the proposed standards.
Zupple Labs specialises in blockchain-powered trust infrastructure for governments and institutions in four countries. Its solutions are used to secure and authenticate critical citizen records, including land records, educational credentials, identities, permits and work orders. These applications connect the company’s work to the wider digitisation of public records, where the reliability of the underlying system affects institutions, service providers and citizens.
The DRDO project also highlights the role of specialised startups in developing technology for public-sector and strategic applications. Zupple Labs is among the 10 startups in the current ‘Bolpu’ cohort, a one-year accelerator programme for Mangaluru-based startups and early-stage ventures. The programme provides funding, mentorship, market access and continuing advisory support.
Capt Brijesh Chowta, Member of Parliament from Dakshina Kannada, congratulated the company on securing the DRDO project and said it would contribute to strengthening blockchain security and India’s cybersecurity capabilities.
The immediate next step is the development of the security analysis and auditing framework in coordination with DRDO’s Scientific Analysis Group. Further details on the standards, evaluation process and possible defence applications will determine how the framework is used in practice.
