CERT-In briefs foreign journalists on India’s cybersecurity framework

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, on Friday hosted a cybersecurity familiarisation and interaction programme for visiting journalists from Europe, the Americas and Central Asia.

The session, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, focused on India’s cybersecurity framework, emerging cyber threats and the country’s growing role in global cyber defence. The interaction was chaired by CERT-In Director General and Controller of Certifying Authorities, Sanjay Bahl.

Addressing the delegation, Bahl outlined CERT-In’s mandate, including cyber incident response, crisis management, vulnerability assessment, information sharing, empanelment of security auditors and specialised training programmes. He said the agency plays a central role in building a resilient cyber ecosystem through research collaborations, public–private partnerships and engagement in international forums in line with the Digital India vision.

Bahl highlighted India’s emergence as a global cybersecurity hub, driven by over 400 startups and a skilled workforce of more than 6.5 lakh professionals, supporting a cybersecurity industry valued at around USD 20 billion. He noted that Indian companies are developing advanced solutions in threat detection, cyber forensics and AI-based monitoring.

Referring to the evolving threat landscape, Bahl said Artificial Intelligence has become a “double-edged sword”, aiding both cyber defenders and attackers. He explained that CERT-In uses AI-driven analytics and automation for real-time detection and response, while also developing countermeasures against AI-enabled cyber threats.

The journalists were also briefed on CERT-In’s capacity-building initiatives, regular cyber drills and international cooperation, including joint exercises and collaboration with France’s National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) on a high-level risk analysis report on Artificial Intelligence. CERT-In’s initiatives aimed at strengthening cybersecurity in cooperative banks and protecting citizens’ digital devices were cited as having been featured in the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025.

Bahl said India reported 147 ransomware incidents in 2024, adding that CERT-In’s coordinated response and real-time intelligence sharing helped significantly mitigate their impact.