New Delhi: In a digital era, where cybercrimes have become a serious threat to the economy and national security, the Government of India has taken a major step towards a coordinated, empowered, and citizen-centric framework to tackle these challenges. Under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are state subjects. Therefore, the primary responsibility of preventing, detecting, investigating, and prosecuting crimes lies with the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) of the states and union territories. However, given the inter-state and international nature of cybercrimes, the central government has decided to play a complementary, enabling, and coordinating role, under which a historic plan has now been announced.
This new comprehensive plan aims not just to respond, but to prevent cybercrimes, increase public awareness, build capacity, and create a secure digital ecosystem. The plan envisages unprecedented collaboration between the Centre, states, and the private sector.
Key Pillars of the Plan:
- Further Empowering the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C):
I4C, which was established as a nodal agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is now the backbone of this comprehensive plan. It has been given the following responsibilities:
· National Cyber Threat Analysis Unit: To collect data from various sources every hour, analyse threats, and share real-time intelligence with states.
· Strengthening International Cooperation: To ensure action against foreign entities targeting Indian citizens by strengthening ties with Interpol and other international agencies.
· Modernising Forensic Labs: To provide advanced equipment and training to state-level forensic labs across the country for faster and more effective analysis of digital evidence. - National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: Towards an Integrated Dashboard:
The existing reporting portal is being transformed into a comprehensive ‘Cyber Command Centre’. This new portal will include:
· Live Tracking: Complainants will be able to track the status of their complaint in real-time.
· Automated Quick Response System: Reports of financial fraud will be automatically linked to relevant banks, fintech companies, and telecom service providers to enable immediate transaction blocking.
· Data Visualisation: Real-time mapping of cybercrime trends, hotspots, and modus operandi, aiding police forces in strategic deployment. - Financial Cyber Fraud Management System: Expanding Success:
The ‘Citizens’ Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System’ has already processed over 23.02 lakh complaints, saving citizens’ hard-earned money worth more than ₹7,130 crore. The new plan builds on this success with the following provisions:
· Mandatory Integration of All Financial Institutions: All private and public sector banks, payment banks, digital wallets, and entities regulated by RBI will now be mandated to integrate with this platform.
· Proactive Alert System: The system will no longer be limited to reporting. It will proactively alert citizens and banks by identifying suspicious transaction patterns.
· Fraud Wallet Identification and Freezing: The process for immediate identification and freezing of suspicious digital wallets will be expedited. - Comprehensive Capacity Building and Public Awareness Campaigns:
· Cyber Prahari (Guardian) Scheme: At least 100 officers per district will be trained as ‘Cyber Praharis’. These guardians will be focal points for local-level training, awareness, and preliminary investigation.
· Curriculum Integration: Collaboration with the Ministry of Education to integrate cybersecurity and digital literacy modules into school and college curricula.
· National Media Campaign: A large-scale multi-lingual campaign named ‘Cyber Jagrookta (Awareness) Mission’ will be launched, specifically focusing on senior citizens and rural areas. - Innovative Technological Interventions and Research:
· Use of AI and ML: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) platforms will be developed to identify new cybercrime patterns, detect phishing websites, and flag deepfake content.
· Blockchain-Based Evidence Management: Pilot projects for blockchain technology will be initiated to ensure the security and integrity of digital evidence for robust presentation in courts.
· Encouraging Startup Ecosystem: Special grants and support will be provided to Indian startups in the cybersecurity field for research and development. - Strengthening the Legal Framework:
Under this plan, a special committee will be formed to review existing laws related to cybercrimes, especially the Information Technology Act, 2000, and recommend necessary amendments. It will focus on tackling emerging threats like misuse of the dark web, crimes involving cryptocurrency, and misuse of deepfake technology.
Stakeholder Response:
· A senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs said, “This plan reflects the spirit of ‘cooperative federalism’ and ‘One India, Secure India’. Our goal is to empower states with technology, intelligence, and financial support so that every Indian citizen feels safe in the digital world.”
· Cybersecurity expert Dr. Aruna Verma welcomed the plan, stating, “A coordinated strategy centered around I4C was long overdue. Proactive threat analysis and real-time data sharing at the national level could be a game-changer. However, success will depend on its implementation and allocation of resources at the state level.”
· A representative of the Banking Association said, “The mandatory integration of all institutions with the financial fraud management system will revolutionize fraud prevention. It will help us protect customers’ assets.”
Conclusion:
India’s new multi-dimensional plan against cybercrimes is not merely a policy document, but a roadmap for securing the future of Digital India. The plan demonstrates a resolve to be proactive rather than reactive, united rather than working in silos, and to extend beyond mere enforcement to public empowerment. If this plan is effectively implemented with the full cooperation of all stakeholders, India will not only provide security to its citizens but could also emerge as a leading country in global cybersecurity initiatives. The amount saved, over ₹7,130 crore, already indicates its impact; this new plan promises to take this success to a new level.