Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

Cybersecurity is a vital component of India’s national security, as digital technologies increasingly underpin governance, defense, and commerce. With digital services projected to contribute 20% of GDP by 2026, escalating cyber threats threaten data, infrastructure, and stability, making strong cybersecurity crucial for sustained growth and security.

Body

Challenges Faced by India in Protecting Cyberspace:

• Nature of Cyber Threats: Cyber threats are difficult to detect and trace due to their anonymity, low cost, and ease of execution.
  • In 2022, 14.91 lakh cyber incidents were reported, an 11% rise from 2021 (CERT-In).
• Evolving Techniques of Cyber Criminals: Cybercriminals are becoming more innovative, employing ransomware as a service (RaaS) and cybercrime-as-a-service, making it easier for even non-experts to launch attacks.
  • For example, ransomware groups like LockBit and Akira exploit these models to amplify their attacks.
• Misuse of Artificial Intelligence: In 2023, WormGPT, a malicious version of AI like ChatGPT, was used to generate malicious content, including phishing emails, posing a new challenge for cybersecurity.
• Critical Infrastructure: India’s Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) remains vulnerable, as highlighted by the 2022 AIIMS ransomware attack that compromised sensitive patient data.
  • Fragmented cybersecurity oversight across multiple agencies, along with threats to power grids, banking, and defense, poses serious national security risks.
• Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Tensions: India’s geopolitical environment, particularly with hostile neighbors, increases the risk of cyber espionage.
  • Cyber-attacks are increasingly being used for geopolitical maneuvering, further complicating India’s cybersecurity landscape.

Steps to Strengthen Cybersecurity Framework:

• National Cybersecurity Strategy: In addition to developing a national cybersecurity strategy with clear goals, cyber insurance should be considered a key measure for managing financial risks from cyberattacks, with the National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC) overseeing efforts across both public and private sectors. 
• Capacity Building and Training: Focus on capacity building through cybersecurity training and national cyber literacy campaigns. Initiatives like Cyber Swachhta Kendra promote public awareness and safe digital practices.
  • Training in cyber forensics is vital, with Delhi Police reporting 200 cyber fraud cases daily in 2023–24.
• Stronger Legal and Regulatory Framework: Strengthening India’s legal framework for cybercrimes, such as the IT Act, 2000, can provide the necessary legal backing to combat cyber crimes effectively.
• Collaborative International Efforts: Given the transnational nature of cyber threats, India should engage more actively in international cybersecurity collaborations, including strengthening its cooperation with global organizations like INTERPOL and the United Nations.

Conclusion

The Gulshan Rai Committee (2014) emphasized the need for a dedicated Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, reduced reliance on foreign servers, and a separate agency for online cybercrime registration and CCTNS integration to strengthen India’s cybersecurity framework.