India Hosts Foreign Journalists to Showcase Cybersecurity Framework

CERT-In, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), recently hosted a delegation of visiting foreign journalists for a detailed interaction on India’s cybersecurity framework and digital resilience architecture. The outreach exercise was aimed at explaining how India organises, governs, and continuously upgrades its national cybersecurity mechanisms as the country’s digital public infrastructure and online services expand at scale.[1]

Context and purpose of the interaction

CERT-In functions as the national nodal agency for responding to cybersecurity incidents, issuing threat advisories, and coordinating mitigation across government and critical information infrastructure. By inviting foreign journalists for an in-person engagement, the agency sought to provide an overview of India’s institutional framework, operational practices, and recent initiatives in cybersecurity governance.[1]

The interaction formed part of a broader government effort to communicate how India secures its rapidly growing digital economy, including critical sectors, digital public platforms, financial systems, and citizen-facing online services. According to the official account, the visiting journalists were briefed on India’s cyber incident response processes, national coordination structures, and the legal and policy ecosystem that underpins cybersecurity operations.[1]

Overview of India’s cybersecurity framework

Officials from CERT-In outlined the core elements of India’s cybersecurity framework, which is anchored in national policies, institutional arrangements, mandatory reporting requirements, and sectoral coordination. The framework is designed to enable timely detection of threats, rapid incident response, and systematic hardening of digital infrastructure across public and private entities.[1]

The journalists were informed that CERT-In operates round-the-clock to monitor cyber threats, analyse vulnerabilities, and coordinate with stakeholders for mitigation. The interaction covered how alerts, vulnerability notes, and security guidelines are issued, and how incident information flows between CERT-In, sectoral regulators, critical information infrastructure operators, and law enforcement agencies.[1]

Officials also highlighted the role of other national institutions, such as the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC), which focuses on the protection of critical information infrastructure in designated sectors, working in coordination with CERT-In on detection and prevention of cyber attacks.[8]

Legal and policy underpinnings

The briefing emphasised that India’s cybersecurity framework is supported by statutory provisions and rules framed under the Information Technology Act, including obligations on service providers, intermediaries, and corporate entities to report certain categories of cyber incidents to CERT-In. These reporting requirements have been strengthened in recent years to ensure better visibility of threats and faster coordinated responses across sectors.[1]

CERT-In officials underlined that regular security audits and compliance with information security standards, particularly for critical and large-scale systems, are a key part of the approach. Government entities and key public systems are required to undergo periodic audits by CERT-In empanelled information security audit organisations, with audit findings feeding into remediation and policy refinement.[8]

Operational practices and incident response

During the interaction, visiting journalists were briefed on how CERT-In manages incident response in practice, from initial detection or notification through to analysis, advisories, and coordinated mitigation. Officials described the workflows used when an incident is reported, including technical analysis, classification of severity, and dissemination of recommendations or directions to affected entities and relevant stakeholders.[1]

The team explained that CERT-In issues alerts and advisories on emerging vulnerabilities, malware campaigns, and sector-specific threat activity. These alerts are disseminated across government departments, critical infrastructure operators, service providers, and the wider ecosystem to enable timely patching, configuration changes, and risk reduction measures.[1]

Delegates were also informed that, in addition to incident coordination, CERT-In undertakes periodic cyber drills and exercises with stakeholders. These drills test readiness, validate standard operating procedures, and help agencies and organisations refine their internal incident response capabilities in alignment with national guidelines.

Illustrative example from the public sector

To demonstrate how the broader framework operates in practice, officials referenced the arrangements for securing Indian Railways’ online reservation system, which is regarded as a large, mission-critical public digital platform. In a recent parliamentary response, the government detailed a layered cybersecurity architecture for the reservation system and the role of CERT-In in its oversight.[8]

The reservation platform is protected through multiple technical controls, including network firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, application delivery controllers, and web application firewalls. The system is hosted in a dedicated, access-controlled data centre equipped with CCTV surveillance, end-to-end encryption, and is certified under the ISO 27001 Information Security Management System standard.[8]

In this case, CERT-In’s empanelled information security audit agencies conduct regular security audits of the reservation system, while CERT-In and NCIIPC continuously monitor internet traffic related to the ticketing system to detect and prevent cyber attacks. This arrangement illustrates how national cyber institutions interact with sectoral operators to secure high-usage citizen services.[8]

Threat landscape and international assessments

The visiting journalists were informed about India’s evolving threat landscape and the increasing sophistication of cyber attacks targeting both public and private systems. Officials highlighted that cyber threats range from phishing and ransomware to advanced persistent threats directed at critical infrastructure and sensitive information systems.[1]

The interaction also referred to global assessments that have recognised India’s improving cyber resilience. For instance, the Cybersecurity Outlook January 2025 report of the World Economic Forum noted India’s progress in strengthening cyber defence mechanisms and institutional capacities. This reference was used to situate India’s efforts in the context of global cybersecurity trends and benchmarks.[1]

Officials stressed that the volume and complexity of attacks rise in tandem with the expansion of digital services, and that continuous enhancement of capabilities, processes, and technologies is therefore central to India’s cybersecurity strategy.

Digital public infrastructure and cybersecurity

The briefing emphasised that India’s cybersecurity framework has been designed to support the country’s extensive digital public infrastructure, which includes platforms for identity, payments, direct benefit transfers, digital governance, and citizen services. The expansion of these systems has required parallel strengthening of security architecture, monitoring systems, and incident response readiness.

Officials described how sectoral systems integrate cybersecurity from the design stage, and how secure coding practices, vulnerability assessments, and configuration reviews are mandated for key applications. The role of CERT-In advisories and sector-specific guidance was underlined in helping government departments and affiliated agencies implement consistent security controls.

According to the government, India’s approach combines technical measures, regulatory obligations, and capacity building. This includes sensitisation of system administrators, regular training for public officials managing digital services, and engagement with industry partners for threat intelligence sharing and best practices.[1]

Role of audits, monitoring, and threat intelligence

The interaction gave visiting journalists a detailed view of how audits and continuous monitoring form a critical part of India’s cybersecurity posture. Regular security audits by CERT-In empanelled agencies are mandated for many public-facing and critical systems, with audit outcomes informing remedial action plans and further hardening measures.[8]

For high-value systems, the government employs layered monitoring and threat intelligence services. An example cited was the role of RailTel Corporation of India Ltd. in providing comprehensive cyber threat intelligence services for railway ICT systems. These services include take-down support, threat monitoring, deep and dark web surveillance, and digital risk protection, enabling more proactive identification of emerging risks and faster incident response.[8]

CERT-In officials explained that similar principles apply across other sectors, where monitoring centres, logs analysis, and correlation tools are used to detect anomalies and unusual patterns indicative of attacks. When necessary, CERT-In issues directions or advisories based on observed trends or new vulnerabilities.

Capacity building and ecosystem development

A key part of the interaction focused on India’s efforts to build cybersecurity capacity across government, critical sectors, and the broader ecosystem. Journalists were informed that CERT-In conducts multiple awareness programmes, workshops, and training sessions each year for system administrators, government IT staff, incident response teams, and other stakeholders.[1]

These programmes cover incident handling, secure configuration, malware analysis, log management, and other foundational topics. The objective is to improve on-ground skills so that organisations can detect and respond to threats locally while coordinating with national agencies when required.

The officials also emphasised India’s engagement with global and regional cybersecurity initiatives, information sharing platforms, and capacity building networks. Such cooperation supports cross-border incident handling, helps track transnational threat actors, and aligns India’s practices with evolving international norms.

Public-facing services and citizen impact

CERT-In’s presentation underscored the direct connection between cybersecurity measures and the reliability of citizen-facing services. Public digital platforms handling financial transactions, personal data, bookings, and welfare schemes are expected to maintain high levels of security to protect users and ensure service continuity.

The steps taken in the railway reservation system illustrate this citizen impact dimension. Alongside technical hardening, the government has combined cybersecurity with measures to curb misuse and ensure fair access to services. These include Aadhaar-based One-Time Password verification in online and counter-based tatkal ticket bookings, deployment of anti-bot solutions to restrict non-genuine users, and deactivation of suspicious user accounts.[8]

According to the information shared in Parliament, these measures have led to an increase in the confirmed tatkal ticket availability time in a majority of the trains where the new systems have been implemented, demonstrating how cybersecurity and process controls together can improve service fairness and user experience.[8]

Administrative significance of the outreach

CERT-In’s engagement with foreign journalists carries administrative significance beyond the immediate interaction. By opening its frameworks and processes to international media scrutiny and explanation, the agency is signalling an emphasis on transparency, structured communication, and global benchmarking in cybersecurity governance.

The interaction enables foreign correspondents to better understand how India is approaching cyber incident response, protection of critical digital infrastructure, and governance of large-scale online services. For policymakers and administrators, such engagements help position India’s frameworks in comparative perspective and can influence future collaboration with partner countries, multilateral forums, and industry stakeholders.

For domestic agencies, preparing for such briefings requires consolidation of information on initiatives, challenges, and next steps, which can support internal review and further policy refinement.

Key themes highlighted during the session

According to the official press note, the interaction covered multiple themes that together provide an integrated view of India’s cybersecurity approach.[1]

• National cyber incident response structures and CERT-In’s mandate
• Legal and policy frameworks governing incident reporting and obligations on organisations
• Protection of critical information infrastructure in coordination with NCIIPC
• Security of large-scale public digital platforms, illustrated through sectoral examples
• Monitoring, threat intelligence, and audit mechanisms
• Capacity building, awareness, and ecosystem collaboration
• India’s position in international cybersecurity assessments and forums

Each of these elements was presented in the context of rapid digitalisation, underlining the need for continuous updates to policy, technology, and skills.

Statements from the government

The official communication from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology framed the interaction as part of India’s commitment to building a secure and trusted digital environment. The ministry highlighted the link between cybersecurity, digital governance, and public trust in online systems.

The Government of India, through CERT-In and other specialised agencies, is continuously working to enhance cyber resilience, strengthen protection of critical information infrastructure, and safeguard citizens and organisations from emerging cyber threats. Structured interactions with international stakeholders, including foreign media, are an important component of this effort.

In the context of the railway ticketing system, the Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology stated in a written reply to Parliament that the reservation platform is equipped with industry-standard, state-of-the-art cyber security controls and is regularly audited and monitored by CERT-In and NCIIPC to detect and prevent cyber attacks.[8]

Regular security audits of the reservation system are carried out by CERT-In empanelled Information Security Audit Agencies. Moreover, internet traffic related to the ticketing system is continuously monitored by CERT-In and the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre to detect and prevent cyber attacks.

These statements were used in the interaction to illustrate government priorities and the operational roles played by national cyber institutions.

Implications for future policy and governance

CERT-In’s engagement with foreign journalists is expected to reinforce several ongoing directions in India’s cyber governance.

Administratively, it affirms the importance of integrated national coordination on cybersecurity, with CERT-In, NCIIPC, sectoral agencies, and service operators working in alignment. The emphasis on audits, monitoring, and threat intelligence is likely to continue, especially for systems categorised as critical or high impact.

The interaction also underscores that citizen-facing digital services cannot be separated from cybersecurity considerations. Policy measures to improve fairness, reliability, and security in high-demand services such as online bookings, digital payments, and welfare delivery will remain intertwined with cyber risk management.

Internationally, explaining India’s frameworks to foreign journalists may facilitate clearer communication on incident handling, cross-border cooperation, and participation in global cybersecurity discussions. It offers other countries and stakeholders insights into how a large, rapidly digitising economy is organising its defences and building institutional capacity.

Public communication and awareness dimension

The session with foreign journalists highlights an emerging emphasis on public communication in India’s cybersecurity strategy. Historically, many aspects of cyber defence work have been largely technical and inward-facing. By engaging directly with the media, CERT-In and MeitY are acknowledging the role of informed public discourse and international understanding in sustaining trust in digital systems.

For domestic audiences, clearer articulation of frameworks, responsibilities, and protections can support better compliance with advisories, improved reporting of incidents, and more informed use of digital services. For global audiences, it offers a structured account of India’s approach and its convergence with international practices.

Going forward, similar outreach interactions, whether with foreign media, domestic journalists, or sectoral stakeholders, are likely to become a recurring feature of India’s cybersecurity administration, helping bridge the gap between technical operations and public understanding.