Cyber Surakshit Bharat: Teaching Government IT Staff to Stay Safe Online

The Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiative is a flagship government program launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

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Cyber Surakshit Bharat

Teaching Government IT Staff to Stay Safe Online

The Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiative is a flagship government program launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Its mission is to strengthen the cybersecurity skills of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and IT staff across all government departments, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and public sector banks.

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What Does the Initiative Do?

Cyber Surakshit Bharat is a unique public-private partnership, with support from leading IT companies like Microsoft, IBM, Intel, and others, as well as government knowledge partners such as NIC, CERT-In, and CDAC.

The program conducts intensive “deep-dive” training sessions for CISOs and IT professionals from central and state governments, banks, police, and security forces. These workshops are held across major cities in India and are designed to address the latest cyber threats and best practices for defence.

Main Points and Rules

Capacity Building

The program aims to train over 1,200 CISOs and IT officials, ensuring that government organizations are ready to face cyber threats.

Awareness and Education

Training covers the latest cyber-attack techniques, legal provisions, and crisis management planning.

Best Practices

Participants learn about using strong passwords, keeping systems updated, and protecting sensitive government data.

Policy Formulation

CISOs are guided to create robust cybersecurity policies and crisis management plans for their organizations.

Collaboration

The initiative encourages knowledge sharing among participants, helping them learn from each other’s experiences and build a community of cyber-aware decision-makers.

Holistic Approach

The training includes legal, technical, and managerial aspects of cybersecurity, ensuring a well-rounded understanding.

Why Is It Important?

As government services become more digital, the risk of cyber attacks increases.

Cyber Surakshit Bharat ensures that the people responsible for protecting these systems are well-trained and up-to-date. By focusing on awareness, skill-building, and collaboration, the initiative helps safeguard sensitive data and ensures the smooth delivery of public services. It also supports the broader Digital India vision by making government digital infrastructure more resilient to cyber threats.

Main Source:

For more about cyber safety rules for government staff, see the CERT-In guidelines2.