GS3 – Science and Technology
Context:
The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), recently conducted the Bharat National Cybersecurity Exercise 2025, aimed at enhancing India’s cyber resilience.
About NSCS:
The NSCS is the apex body responsible for framing and coordinating national security and strategic policies. It operates under the National Security Council (NSC), which is chaired by the Prime Minister and led by the National Security Advisor (NSA).
Key Focus Areas:
- Protection of Industrial Control Systems (ICS):
Addressing vulnerabilities in sectors like manufacturing, utilities, and transportation. - Emerging AI Threats:
Tackling issues like adversarial AI, deepfake manipulation, and other AI-driven cyberattacks.
Core Modules Included in the Exercise:
- Security Operations Centres (SOC):
Strengthening real-time monitoring and incident response capabilities. - API Security:
Ensuring secure communication between software components and platforms. - Reverse Engineering & Malware Analysis (REMA):
Building technical capacity to understand and neutralise malware. - Digital Forensics & Incident Response (DFIR):
Enabling quick and effective cyber incident investigation and mitigation.
Strategic Component – Stratex:
A simulated national-level cyber crisis was conducted to:
- Enhance inter-agency collaboration
- Test real-time decision-making
- Improve national threat containment mechanisms
Startup Exhibition:
An integral part of the event, this showcased cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions by Indian startups, encouraging dialogue among Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and promoting indigenous innovation.
Significance:
- Enhanced Preparedness:
Boosted India’s readiness to counter cyber threats in critical domains such as energy, defence, and communications. - Multi-Sectoral Collaboration:
Encouraged public-private-academic partnerships to strengthen the national cybersecurity architecture. - Digital Sovereignty:
Reinforced India’s goal of a secure and self-reliant digital infrastructure under the Digital India initiative.