Subject: Internal Security

India's rapidly evolving digital landscape faces unprecedented cybersecurity challenges, with a striking 204,844 cybersecurity incidents reported in government organizations in 2023, marking a concerning 6.4% increase from the previous year.

Major Cyber Threats

• State-Sponsored Attacks:

  • Targeting critical infrastructure and government institutions.
  • Sophisticated malware and advanced persistent threats (APTs).
  • Economic espionage and intellectual property theft.

• Financial Sector Vulnerabilities:

  • DDoS attacks including volumetric and application-layer attacks.
  • NTP reflection amplification and CLDAP reflection attacks.
  • Targeting banking systems and financial data.

• Critical Infrastructure Risks:

  • Attacks on power grids, telecommunications, and healthcare systems.
  • DNS reflection amplification attacks on essential services.
  • Compromise of industrial control systems.

Security Framework and Prevention Measures

• Institutional Framework:

  • CERT-In (Computer Emergency Response Team) issuing regular advisories.
  • Implementation of Information Security Practices guidelines.
  • Establishment of Data Protection Boards of India.

• Financial Allocation:

  • Budget 2025 allocated INR 1900 crore for cybersecurity initiatives.
  • INR 5 crore for Data Protection Boards.
  • INR 2,000 crore for IndiaAI mission.

• Technical Measures:

  • Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) guidelines implementation.
  • Network security protocols and encryption standards.
  • Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.

• Capacity Building:

  • Training cybersecurity professionals.
  • Public-private partnerships for threat intelligence sharing.
  • International cooperation for tackling cyber threats.

The comprehensive approach to cybersecurity through the integration of technological solutions, institutional frameworks, and capacity building measures demonstrates India's commitment to securing its digital future. The success of these initiatives will depend on continuous adaptation to emerging threats and strengthening of the National Cyber Security Strategy.