Amit Shah Chairs Parliamentary Panel on Cyber Security, Calls for Stronger Measures Against Cybercrime

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting on Cyber Security and Cyber Crime in New Delhi, highlighting the growing digital infrastructure in India and the increasing need for robust cyber protections.

The meeting, attended by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, members of the committee, Union Home Secretary, and senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), focused on strategies to counter cyber threats, prevent digital fraud, and enhance coordination among key government agencies.

Amit Shah underscored how India’s rapid digital growth has led to both opportunities and vulnerabilities. “Cybercrime knows no borders or physical limitations. As our digital ecosystem expands, cyber threats also evolve,” he stated.

Highlighting India’s technological boom, he shared key statistics:

• 95% of villages in India are digitally connected.
• 1 lakh gram panchayats now have Wi-Fi hotspots.
• Internet users have grown 4.5 times in the last decade.
• 48% of the world’s digital transactions in 2024 took place in India.
• India is the third-largest startup hub globally, contributing ₹32 lakh crore (12% of GDP) to the digital economy and creating 15 million jobs.

Shah outlined four key strategies for cybercrime prevention: Convergence, Coordination, Communication, and Capacity. These efforts aim to enhance inter-ministerial cooperation and strengthen cyber security frameworks across government agencies.

He highlighted how collaboration between MHA, the Ministry of Electronics and IT, CERT-IN, I4C, Telecom, and Banking sectors has successfully thwarted many cybercrime attempts.

Recognizing the rising cases of online fraud, Shah urged committee members to promote the I4C helpline number 1930, which serves as a one-stop platform for reporting cyber financial fraud.

Additionally, AI-driven identification of mule accounts—used in financial scams—is being implemented in coordination with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and other banks to detect and shut them down before misuse.

The ‘STOP-THINK-TAKE ACTION’ initiative, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, is also being promoted to encourage cyber vigilance among citizens.

Key Achievements in Cybersecurity

• 1.43 lakh FIRs registered on the I4C cybercrime portal.
• 19 crore citizens have accessed cyber safety resources.
• 805 mobile apps and 3,266 website links blocked for security reasons.
• 399 banks & financial intermediaries onboarded to detect suspicious transactions.
• 19 lakh mule accounts identified, preventing ₹2,038 crore in fraudulent transactions.
• Cyber Crime Forensic Labs established in 33 states and UTs.
• CyTrain platform registered 1.01 lakh police officers, issuing 78,000+ cybercrime training certificates.

Members of the committee appreciated the government’s efforts in strengthening cyber security and offered suggestions for further improving public awareness and legal frameworks to combat cyber threats.

With cybercrime evolving at a rapid pace, the Home Ministry’s renewed focus on digital safety is set to fortify India’s cybersecurity landscape while ensuring a safer online environment for citizens and businesses.