Executive Summary:
The Indian government is actively working to prevent cyber fraud and enhance cybersecurity awareness through various initiatives. These efforts include awareness programs, dissemination of multilingual educational materials, and the use of technology to detect and disable fraudulent activities. Key stakeholders involved are citizens, government agencies, service providers, and financial institutions.
Key Points / Main Content:
Cybersecurity Awareness Initiatives:
* MeitY implements the ISEA project, conducting awareness workshops and disseminating multilingual cyber hygiene materials through portals like www.staysafeonline.in and www.csk.gov.in.
* The government observes Cyber Security Awareness Month (October), Safer Internet Day (2nd Tuesday of February), Swachhta Pakhwada (February 1-15), and Cyber Jagrookta Diwas (1st Wednesday of each month).
* CERT-In issues alerts, advisories, and security tips regarding cyber threats and publishes on websites and social media.
Technology and Coordination:
* CERT-In coordinates with service providers, regulators, and LEAs to track and disable phishing websites.
* Cyber Swachhta Kendra (CSK) offers tools and tips to detect and remove malicious programs.
* MHA has established I4C to deal with cybercrimes in a coordinated manner.
* I4C uses SMS, social media (CyberDost), TV, radio, schools, cinema halls, celebrity endorsements, and other mediums to spread awareness.
* DoT uses AI-powered ASTR to detect mobile connections acquired through forged documents.
* DoT developed Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) for stakeholders to share information on telecom misuse.
* DoT and TSPs use Centralised International Outroamer Register (CIOR) to block spoofed international calls.
* Sanchar Saathi facilitates citizens to report fraud, check mobile connections, and report lost/stolen handsets.
Financial Fraud Prevention:
* Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) classifies mobile numbers based on fraud risk.
* RBI and banks conduct awareness campaigns and RBI launched AI based tool Mule Hunter for identification of money mule.
* NPCI provides fraud monitoring solutions to banks using AI/ML models.
Impact Analysis:
Citizens:
* Impact: Increased awareness of cyber threats and preventive measures, access to tools for detecting and removing malware, and mechanisms for reporting fraud.
* Action Required: Utilize available resources (websites, tools, helplines), report suspicious activity, and adopt safe online practices.
Government Agencies (MeitY, CERT-In, MHA, DoT, RBI):
* Impact: Enhanced capabilities for detecting, preventing, and responding to cybercrime, increased coordination among agencies, and improved public awareness.
* Action Required: Continue to develop and implement cybersecurity initiatives, collaborate with stakeholders, and disseminate information to the public.
Service Providers (Telecom Service Providers, Banks, NBFC, UPI service providers):
* Impact: Responsibility to implement security measures, cooperate with government agencies, and protect customers from fraud.
* Action Required: Implement FRI, utilize AI/ML-based fraud detection systems, share information with the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), and participate in awareness campaigns.
Financial Institutions (Banks, NBFCs):
* Impact: Improved tools for identifying and preventing financial fraud, increased need for compliance with regulatory guidelines.
* Action Required: Utilize AI-based tools like Mule Hunter, implement fraud monitoring solutions, and participate in public awareness campaigns.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY): The Indian government ministry responsible for electronics and information technology policy.
Cyber Swachhta Kendra (CSK): A citizen-centric service provided by CERT-In, functioning as the Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre.
Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): An office under the Ministry of Home Affairs, responsible for dealing with all types of cybercrimes in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): The Indian government department responsible for telecommunications policy and regulation.
Cybercrime Helpline Number 1930: A helpline number to report cybercrime.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI): The central bank of India, responsible for monetary policy and financial regulation.
Bengaluru Rural Parliamentary Constituency, Karnataka: A parliamentary constituency in Karnataka, India, used as a specific example in the policy text.
CERT-In: The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, responsible for cybersecurity incident response.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2986
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 06.08.2025
CYBER AWARENESS CAMPS
2986. DR. C N MANJUNATH:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is providing any support to prevent online frauds, phishing attacks and
financial scams affecting rural internet users including those in the Bengaluru Rural Parliamentary
Constituency and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any cyber awareness camps or grievance redressal training has been conducted in
partnership with the State police or the district administration, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to launch a localised public awareness campaign on cyber
hygiene in regional languages?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (c): The Government has taken several initiatives for prevention of cyber frauds and promotion
of cyber security awareness, with the objective of ensuring an Open, Safe, Trusted, and Accountable
Internet for all users. Government remains cognizant and aware of cyber threats and challenges. The
Government has taken the following key initiatives:
● Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is implementing a project on
‘Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA)’ for generating human resources in the
area of Information Security and creating general awareness on various aspects of cyber
hygiene/cyber security among the masses. Under the awareness component, 24 awareness
workshops have been organized in Bengaluru Rural constituency covering 1,644 participants.
Multilingual Awareness material in the form of handbooks, short videos, posters, brochures,
cartoon stories for children, advisories, etc. on various aspects of cyber hygiene & cyber
security are disseminated through these awareness workshops and portals such as
www.staysafeonline.in, and www.csk.gov.in.
● Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology observes the Cyber Security Awareness
Month (NCSAM) during October every year, Safer Internet Day on 2nd Tuesday of February
every year, Swachhta Pakhwada from 1st to 15th February of every year and Cyber Jagrookta
Diwas (CJD) on 1st Wednesday of every month by organising various events and activities for
citizens as well as the technical cyber community in India.
● CERT-In issues alerts and advisories regarding latest cyber threats/vulnerabilities including
social engineering, phishing and vishing campaigns and countermeasures to protect computers,
mobile phones, networks and data on an ongoing basis.
● CERT-In publishes Security tips for users to secure their desktops and mobile phones and to
prevent phishing attacks.● CERT-In is working in coordination with service providers, regulators and Law Enforcement
Agencies (LEAs) to track and disable phishing websites and facilitate investigation of
fraudulent activities.
● Cyber Swachhta Kendra (CSK) is a citizen-centric service provided by CERT-In, which
extends the vision of Swachh Bharat to the cyber space. Cyber Swachhta Kendra is the Botnet
Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre and helps to detect malicious programs and provides
free tools to remove the same, and also provides cyber security tips and best practices for
citizens and organisations.
● CERT-In has organized awareness programs to educate the users on cyber security best
practices and measures that can be taken against the phishing and cyber fraud campaigns.
● CERT-In is regularly sharing safety and security tips, awareness posters, info-graphics,
booklets and videos through its official websites and social media handles such as Facebook,
X(Twitter), Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn for sensitizing internet users on cyber security
attacks and frauds and prevention measures
● Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has set up the ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’
(I4C) as an attached office to deal with all types of cybercrimes in the country, in a coordinated
and comprehensive manner.
● To spread awareness on cybercrime, the MHA has taken steps which, inter-alia, include;
dissemination of messages through SMS, I4C social media account i.e. X (formerly Twitter)
(@CyberDost), Facebook (CyberDostI4C), Instagram (CyberDostI4C),
Telegram(cyberdosti4c), SMS campaign, TV campaign, Radio campaign, School Campaign,
advertisement in cinema halls, celebrity endorsement, IPL campaign, campaign during Kumbh
Mela 2025, Mann Ki Baat, caller tune, engaged MyGov for publicity in multiple mediums,
organizing Cyber Safety and Security Awareness weeks in association with States/UTs,
publishing of Handbook for Adolescents/Students, newspaper advertisement on digital arrest
scam, announcement in Delhi metros on digital arrest and other modus operandi of cyber
criminals, use of social media influencers to create special posts on digital arrest, digital
displays on railway stations and airports across, etc.
● I4C is collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched a caller
tune campaign with effect from 19.12.2024 for raising awareness about cybercrime and
promoting the Cybercrime Helpline Number 1930 & NCRP portal.
● Department of Telecommunications (DoT) through its AI and Facial Recognition powered
Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification (ASTR) tool detects mobile connections that
were acquired through forged documents.
● DoT has developed an online secure Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) for sharing of
information related to misuse of telecom resources among the stakeholders. DoT and Telecom
Service Providers (TSPs) have devised a system called Centralised International Outroamer
Register (CIOR) to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls displaying Indian
mobile numbers.
● DoT has also evolved the ecosystem for curbing misuse of telecom resources through enhanced
capacity building of human resource skill set and by development of AI & big data analytics
tools, inter-alia, including ASTR, CIOR and DIP. Further, Sanchar Saathi, a citizen centric
initiative has been launched which is accessible through web portal & mobile App and
facilitates citizens to report suspected fraud communications, to know mobile connections in
their name, to report lost/ stolen mobile handsets etc. In addition, Financial Fraud Risk Indicator
(FRI) has been developed which is a risk-based metric that classifies a mobile number to have
been associated with Medium, High, or Very Highrisk of financial fraud. FRI empowers
stakeholders-especially banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC), and UnifiedPayments Interface (UPI) service providers to prioritize enforcement and take additional
customer protection measures in case a mobile number has high risk.
● RBI and banks have also been taking up awareness campaigns through short SMS, radio
campaign, publicity on prevention of ‘cyber-crime’ etc. RBI has further launched an Artificial
Intelligence (AI) based tool ‘Mule Hunter’ for identification of money mule and advised the
banks and financial institutions for its uses.
● Additionally, NPCI provides a fraud monitoring solution to all the banks to generate alerts and
decline transactions by using AI/ ML based models.
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