New Delhi: The government has introduced the Cyber Security Innovation Challenge (CSIC) 1.0, a new initiative aimed at helping students and researchers work on real-world cyber issues while strengthening India’s capacity to develop its own security solutions. The programme, launched under MeitY’s Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) project, is designed to build a skilled talent pool and encourage cyber security as a serious career path.
IT Secretary S. Krishnan said the country needs a dual approach that expands awareness of emerging risks while boosting technological capability. He noted that CSIC 1.0 is structured to address both goals. Krishnan added that cyber security demands a “whole-of-nation” approach, aligning with the Prime Minister’s call for a “whole-of-government” strategy. He emphasised the importance of taking winning ideas beyond Minimum Viable Product stage and helping them develop into market-ready solutions through collaboration with startups and industry partners.
The event was attended by representatives from MeitY, CERT-In, NSCS, AICTE, C-DAC, DSCI and institutions from industry and academia.
Vinayak Godse, CEO of the Data Security Council of India, walked participants through the five-stage structure of CSIC 1.0 and its set of problem statements crafted by DSCI, C-DAC and the ISEA team. He said the initiative will help students and researchers build innovative and entrepreneurial thinking early in their careers.
V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, said the challenge reflects a better understanding of core cyber security problems and enhances the country’s ability to design meaningful solutions.
The challenge has ten domain-specific problems aligned with national cyber security needs and focused on areas requiring new approaches.
Dr Sanjay Bahl, Director General of CERT-In, said the ISEA project has played an important role in driving innovation aimed at shifting cyber security from reactive defence to proactive action. He said the Innovation Challenge brings together R&D, academia and industry, allowing solutions from educational institutions to eventually enter the market as deployable products.
BI Bureau
