Condition of cyber security in India

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The Ministry of Home Affairs released a press statement outlining the current measures the Government has taken to strengthen the country’s cyber security.Currently, the Information Act, 2000 is the primary law for dealing with cyber crime and digital commerce in the country

The Act was first formulated in 2000, and then was revised in 2008 and came into force a year late. The Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2008 amended a number of sections that were related to digital data, electronic devices and cyber crimes.

In the Information Technology Amendment Act, 2008, cyber security is exercised under sections 43 (data protection), 66 (hacking), 66A (measures against sending offensive messages), 66B punishment for illegally possessing stolen computer resources or communication devices), 67(protection against unauthorised access to data), 69 (cyber terrorism), 70 (securing access or attempting to secure access to a protected system) and 72 (privacy and confidentiality) among others..

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Although currently, there is neither a Joint Working Group on Cyber Security nor is the Ministry planning to set up an autonomous body to deal with cyber security issues, the Government is becoming stricter with its cyber crime policies.

The Government approved a framework to enhance security in Indian cyberspace for cyber security with the National Security Council Secretariat functioning as the nodal agency.

The National Cyber Security Policy, 2013 was developed to build a secure and resilient cyberspace for India’s citizens and businesses. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said that the policy aims to protect information and the information infrastructure in cyberspace, build capabilities to prevent and respond to cyber threats, reduce vulnerabilities and minimise damage from cyber incidents through a combination of institutional structures, people, processes, technology and cooperation.

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The Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing the ‘Cyber-Crime Prevention against Women & Children’ Scheme with the intent to prevent and reduce cyber crimes against women and children.This scheme will implement stricter laws and policies and conduct programmes to spread awareness about the cyber threats and how to deal with them.

The release said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Phone Fraud and has issued advisories to states and Union Territories on the ways to check and handle phone frauds.