Imagine waking up one morning to find your bank account wiped clean by a single UPI scam.

Sadly, for thousands in 2024, this wasn’t imagination—it was reality.

As Member 1 rightly pointed out, cybercrime is on the rise: 815 million records leaked in 2023,
₹1,500 crore lost in UPI frauds, and sophisticated global threats knocking on our digital doors.

Now, how is India fighting back?

Let’s dive into the core initiatives that are turning the tide.”

Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), 2018:

Role: Central hub under MHA to coordinate investigations across states.
Features: Tracks trends, runs awareness campaigns, trains police (e.g., 5,000 cyber
commandos planned by 2029).

Impact: Handled 80,000+ complaints in 2023; “Cyber Dost” reached 10 million via social media
in 2024.
Cyber DostOverview: Launched in March 2018 by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under
the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Cyber Dost is a cybersecurity awareness
initiative aimed at educating citizens about preventing cybercrimes. It operates primarily through
a dedicated Twitter handle (@CyberDost) to provide safety tips and resources.
Cyber Dost has published a ‘Handbook for Adolescents/Students on Cyber Safety’ and
‘Information Security Best Practices’ for government officials. It collaborates with platforms like
MyGov for broader outreach and supports Cyber Safety and Security Awareness Weeks with
state police departments.

Recent: Launched “Samanvaya Platform” in 2024 for data analytics and suspect registry with
banksLaunched in September 2024 by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under
the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Samanvaya Platform, also known as the Joint
Cybercrime Investigation Facilitation System, is a centralized data repository designed to
combat cybercrime in India. Announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the
I4C’s first foundation day on September 10, 2024, it aims to enhance coordination among
law enforcement agencies.

National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), 2019

Function: An online platform launched by the Government of India to enable citizens to report
cybercrimes, with a special focus on crimes against women and children, including harassment,
exploitation, and financial fraud. Managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under the
Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), it allows secure, anonymous reporting with
options to upload evidence and track case progress.

Achievements: By 2023, the portal had logged over 33,000 complaints, leading to 790 First
Information Reports (FIRs). In 2024, it facilitated the recovery of ₹10 crore for victims of financial
frauds, such as phishing and unauthorized transactions, based on coordinated efforts with state
police. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) indicates 17,10,505 complaints
were received in 2024 alone, reflecting a significant uptick in usage.

Recent Updates: In 2024, NCRP integrated with the 1930 helpline, operational 24/7, enabling
real-time fraud reporting. This integration allowed immediate blocking of fraudulent transactions,
saving approximately ₹1,800 crore by halting 6 lakh suspicious transactions within three months
of the “suspect registry” launch (September 2024). The helpline handled 700,000 complaints in
April 2023, with Uttar Pradesh reporting 100,000, underscoring its national reach.

CERT-In (Computer Emergency Response Team - India)

Role: Serves as India’s national agency for incident response, issuing advisories, and enforcing
a 6-hour reporting mandate for cyber incidents since 2022 to ensure swift action across sectors.

Example: In 2024, CERT-In mitigated a ransomware attack by the “LockBit” gang on 50+
healthcare systems, protecting 40 million patient records and preventing a ₹200 crore ransom
demand within 48 hours.

Fact: Handled 1.4 million incidents in 2023; in 2024, partnered with Cisco to enhance threat
intelligence, reducing response time by 35% and addressing 1.8 million incidents by March
2025, according to CERT-In’s annual report.
Cyber crime prevention for women and children
PURPOSE: A Ministry of Home Affairs initiative under the Nirbhaya Fund to combat
cybercrimes against women and children through awareness, reporting mechanisms, and
capacity building.
RECENT DEVELOPMENT:The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), launched in
2020, has seen over 16.18 crore visits and reported 1.94 lakh incidents related to child
pornography and similar crimes by 2024.

Cyber Swachhta Kendra,

2017

The Cyber Swachhta Kendra (CSK), or Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre, is an
initiative by the Government of India under the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY). Operated by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)
as part of the Digital India program, it aims to create a secure cyberspace by detecting botnet
infections and malware in India.
It detect and remove malware from devices, providing free
Bot removal tools like:: eScan Antivirus, K7 Security, Quick Heal, and M-Kavach 2 (developed
by C-DAC Hyderabad). to enhance digital hygiene across India.

BotnetDefinition: A botnet is a network of devices (e.g., computers, smartphones, IoT gadgets)

infected with malware, controlled remotely by a cybercriminal (the "botmaster") without the
owners' knowledg

Educational Resources: Guides, advisories, and campaigns like Cyber Swachhta Pakhwada to
promote digital hygiene.

The official website (www.csk.gov.in) offers tools, advisories, and reporting mechanisms for
cyber incidents.
Reach: Cleaned over 1 million devices by 2024, with the addition of mobile malware detection
in 2023, addressing a 25% rise in mobile infections, and reaching 2 lakh rural users through
awareness campaigns by early 2025
Relevance in India: As of 2024, India faced a significant botnet threat, with over 1.5 million
devices infected, contributing to a 30% increase in cyber incidents
BotnetDefinition: A botnet is a network of devices (e.g., computers, smartphones, IoT gadgets)
infected with malware, controlled remotely by a cybercriminal (the "botmaster") without the
owners' knowledg

Cyber Surakshit Bharat

Overview: Launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
in collaboration with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) and industry partners, this
initiative aims to enhance cybersecurity awareness and build capacity among Chief Information
Security Officers (CISOs) and IT officials across government departments.

Focus: It conducts training programs and workshops to equip officials with skills to mitigate
cyber threats, aligning with the Digital India vision.

Why It Matters:

●​ India’s rapid digitization needs strong cybersecurity infrastructure

●​ It helps in reducing vulnerabilities and enhances trust in digital services

Cyber Jagrukta DivasOverview:

Initiated in April 2022 by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under the Indian Cyber Crime
Coordination Centre (I4C) scheme, this program seeks to raise cybersecurity awareness among
public sector undertakings (PSUs), panchayat raj institutions (PRIs), universities, and schools.
Focus: Observed on the first Wednesday of each month, it mandates hour-long awareness
sessions and requires organizations to develop an annual action plan to promote cyber hygiene.