CERT-In Strengthens India’s Global Cybersecurity Outreach, Hosts Foreign Journalists for High-Level Interaction

In a significant step toward deepening international cybersecurity cooperation, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), organised a high-level cybersecurity familiarisation and interaction session for visiting journalists from Europe, America, and Central Asia on 12 December 2025. The initiative, held in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), showcased India’s evolving cyber defence capabilities and growing leadership in global digital security.

The session was presided over by Dr. Sanjay Bahl, Director General, CERT-In and Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), while Shri Krishan Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, MeitY, delivered the welcome address, highlighting MeitY’s widening initiatives including the India AI Impact Summit.

India’s Expanding Cybersecurity Framework

Addressing the delegation, Dr. Bahl detailed CERT-In’s pivotal responsibilities: real-time threat detection, vulnerability assessment, crisis management, coordinated incident response, auditor empanelment, and national-level cybersecurity training. He emphasized that CERT-In’s proactive advisory mechanism ensures rapid alerts for both citizens and enterprises while avoiding unnecessary alarm.

He further highlighted India’s rising prominence as a global cybersecurity hub.

• 400+ cybersecurity startups

• Over 6.5 lakh skilled cyber professionals

• A fast-growing $20 billion cybersecurity industry

These numbers, Dr. Bahl noted, signify India’s emergence as a leading developer of advanced technologies including AI-driven monitoring systems, digital forensic tools, and threat intelligence platforms.

AI as a Catalyst — and a Challenge

Speaking on the evolving cyber threat landscape, Dr. Bahl identified Artificial Intelligence as a “double-edged sword,” empowering defenders but equally capable of enhancing attacks.
CERT-In, he said, actively leverages AI-based analytics and automation for:

• Real-time threat detection

• Predictive risk modelling

• Automated incident response

• Countermeasures against malicious AI-enabled cyber campaigns

International Collaboration and Key Cyber Reports

The visiting journalists were briefed on CERT-In’s ongoing global engagements, including:

• Joint publication with France’s National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) titled
  “Building Trust in AI Through a Cyber Risk-Based Approach”

• Coordinated cyber drills conducted with multiple international partners

• CERT-In’s initiatives to bolster cybersecurity in Indian cooperative banks

• Recognition in the Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 (WEF) for India’s efforts to combat botnets and malware across citizens’ digital devices

Dr. Bahl also revealed that 147 ransomware incidents were recorded in India during 2024, with CERT-In significantly reducing their impact through efficient forensic intervention and intelligence-sharing frameworks.

MeitY Highlights IndiaAI Mission & Startup Support

Joint Secretary Shri Krishan Kumar Singh spoke about:

• The upcoming India AI Impact Summit (February 2026)

• The IndiaAI Mission and national-level AI capacity-building roadmap

• Policy support for domestic cybersecurity startups

• Ongoing research and development programmes under MeitY

A Shared Vision for Global Cyber Resilience

The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where journalists exchanged views on improving cross-border response mechanisms, strengthening information-sharing channels, and deepening collaborative cyber defence efforts.

As India positions itself as a global driver of emerging technologies and cybersecurity governance, initiatives like this familiarisation programme underline the country’s commitment to secure digital transformation for Viksit Bharat.

Tags : AI Cybersecurity