India’s national cyber security agency, CERT-In, is strengthening a resilient and trusted cyber defence framework through research collaborations, public–private partnerships and active engagement in international forums, aligning its efforts with the broader vision of ‘Digital India’, officials said on Saturday.
Addressing a session for visiting journalists from Europe, America and Central Asian countries in New Delhi, Dr Sanjay Bahl, Director General of CERT-In and Controller of Certifying Authorities at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), outlined the agency’s expanding role in safeguarding India’s digital ecosystem. He said CERT-In continues to issue timely alerts and customised advisories to organisations and citizens on emerging cyber threats, enabling preventive action without creating unnecessary alarm.
Dr Bahl detailed CERT-In’s core responsibilities, which include cyber security incident response, crisis management, vulnerability assessment, information sharing, coordinated mitigation efforts, empanelment of cyber auditors and delivery of specialised training programmes across the country. He said these measures are designed to ensure preparedness across government departments, critical infrastructure and the private sector.
Highlighting India’s growing stature in the global cyber security landscape, Dr Bahl said the country has emerged as a major hub powered by more than 400 startups and a skilled workforce exceeding 6.5 lakh professionals. Together, these have helped build a domestic cyber security industry valued at around $20 billion. According to him, Indian innovators are developing advanced solutions in areas such as threat intelligence, cyber forensics and artificial intelligence-based monitoring systems, reinforcing the country’s commitment to a secure and resilient digital environment.
Dr Bahl also addressed the evolving role of artificial intelligence in cyber security, describing it as a “double-edged sword” that can be exploited by both defenders and adversaries. He explained that CERT-In increasingly relies on AI-driven analytics and automation to detect, prevent and respond to cyber incidents in real time, while simultaneously developing countermeasures to tackle malicious AI-enabled attacks.
During the interaction, visiting journalists were briefed on CERT-In’s regular cyber drills, capacity-building initiatives and cooperation with international partners. These efforts, officials said, are aimed at enhancing cross-border coordination and improving collective response mechanisms to global cyber threats.
Providing insight into the threat landscape, Dr Bahl noted that India reported 147 ransomware incidents in 2024. He said the impact of these attacks was significantly reduced through CERT-In’s coordinated response, including real-time intelligence sharing and forensic interventions.
Krishan Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary at MeitY, also addressed the session and highlighted several initiatives being undertaken by the ministry to strengthen India’s cyber security and technology ecosystem. He referred to policy support for startups developing indigenous cyber security solutions, investments in research and development, and the implementation of national-level digital initiatives and projects.
Singh further announced that the ‘India AI Impact Summit’ is scheduled to be held in February 2026, underscoring the government’s focus on artificial intelligence as a key driver of innovation and digital resilience.
Officials said the combined efforts of CERT-In, MeitY and industry stakeholders are central to building a secure digital infrastructure capable of supporting India’s expanding online services, digital governance platforms and growing internet user base.
