India’s Fight Against Cyber Frauds

 

1. India observed a major rise in cybersecurity incidents, increasing from 10.29 lakh in 2022 to 22.68 lakh in 2024, showing the growing scale of cyber threats.

2. More than 86 percent of Indian households are now connected to the internet, reflecting the rapid expansion of the country’s digital ecosystem and online service access.

3. The Union Budget 2025–26 allocated ₹782 crore for cybersecurity projects, indicating stronger policy and financial support for securing digital infrastructure.

4. More than 9.42 lakh SIM cards and 2,63,348 International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers linked to cyber frauds had been blocked.

5. A dedicated cybercrime helpline, 1930, has been operationalised to provide immediate support in cases of online financial fraud and related digital crimes.

6. Cyber fraud losses reported on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) amounted to ₹36.45 lakh crore as of 28 February 2025.

7. Over 1,05,796 police officers were registered on the CyTrain portal, and more than 82,704 certificates had been issued for cybercrime investigation training.

8. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) is the national agency responsible for responding to cybersecurity incidents and issuing alerts, advisories, and remedial guidance.

9. As of March 2025, CERT-In had facilitated 109 cybersecurity mock drills involving 1,438 organisations to strengthen cyber readiness and resilience.

10. National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC), designated under Section 70A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, functions as the nodal agency for protecting critical information infrastructure.

11. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) has proactively blocked 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts linked to cyber fraud activities.

12. Through the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS), financial institutions were able to save more than ₹5,489 crore across over 17.82 lakh complaints.

13. Under the Cyber Crime Prevention Against Women and Children (CCPWC) Scheme, cyber forensic-cum-training laboratories were established across 33 States and Union Territories with support of ₹132.93 crore.

14. These CCPWC laboratories trained more than 24,600 personnel in cybercrime investigation, digital forensics, and preventive cyber response mechanisms.

15. The Samanvaya Platform, through its Pratibimb module, led to 12,987 arrests, 1,51,984 criminal linkages, and 70,584 cyber investigation assistance requests.

 

Must Know Terms :

1. CERT-In

Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) is India’s national agency for responding to cybersecurity incidents. It operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and monitors cyber threats, detects vulnerabilities, issues alerts and advisories, and coordinates remedial measures. As of March 2025, it had facilitated 109 cybersecurity mock drills involving 1,438 organisations to strengthen national cyber resilience.

2.NCRP

National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) is the government’s online platform for reporting cybercrime complaints, with special focus on crimes affecting women and children. It supports citizen reporting of online frauds and digital offences. As of 28 February 2025, cyber fraud losses amounting to ₹36.45 lakh crore had been reported on this portal, showing both scale and reporting reach.

3.NCIIPC

National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) is the nodal agency designated under Section 70A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 for protection of critical information infrastructure. It works with sectors such as banking, telecom, power, and transport through monitoring, risk assessment, and sector-specific guidance. Its purpose is to prevent disruption of infrastructure essential to national security and public safety.

4.I4C

Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) is the Ministry of Home Affairs platform created to support law enforcement agencies in dealing with cybercrime in a coordinated manner. It strengthens investigation through training, research, technical tools, and information sharing. It has proactively blocked 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts linked to cyber frauds, showing its operational role in cyber enforcement.

5.CFCFRMS

Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) is the mechanism used to support rapid reporting and response in financial cyber fraud cases. It helps financial institutions and enforcement agencies act quickly on complaints and attempt transaction freezing. Through this system, more than ₹5,489 crore was saved across over 17.82 lakh complaints, making it a major anti-fraud intervention tool.

6.CCPWC

Cyber Crime Prevention Against Women and Children (CCPWC) Scheme is the government programme focused on strengthening response to cyber offences targeting vulnerable groups. With financial support of ₹132.93 crore, it established cyber forensic-cum-training laboratories across 33 States and Union Territories. These laboratories have trained over 24,600 personnel in cyber investigation, digital forensics, and preventive response capabilities.

Key Takeaways

a) Over 86% of households are nowconnected to the

b) Cybersecurity incidents in India rosefrom 10.29 lakh in 2022 to 22.68 lakh in 2024.

c) Union Budget 2025-2026 allocated₹782 crore for cybersecurity projects.

d) Over 42 lakh SIM cardsand 2,63,348 IMEIs linked to cyber frauds have been blocked.

e) A dedicatedhelpline 1930 offers immediate cybersecurity assistance.

MCQ :

 

1. Cybersecurity incidents in India increased from 10.29 lakh in 2022 to what level in 2024?
A) 18.68 lakh
B) 22.68 lakh
C) 20.68 lakh
D) 24.68 lakh

2. More than what share of Indian households are now connected to the internet?
A) 91 percent
B) 81 percent
C) 76 percent
D) 86 percent

3. The Union Budget 2025–26 allocated how much for cybersecurity projects?
A) ₹682 crore
B) ₹732 crore
C) ₹832 crore
D) ₹782 crore

4. More than how many SIM cards linked to cyber frauds had been blocked?
A) 9.42 lakh
B) 8.42 lakh
C) 7.42 lakh
D) 10.42 lakh

5. How many IMEI numbers linked to cyber frauds had been blocked?
A) 3,13,348
B) 1,63,348
C) 2,63,348
D) 2,13,348

6. Which helpline provides immediate support in cases of online financial fraud?
A) 112
B) 181
C) 1098
D) 1930

7. Cyber fraud losses reported on the NCRP as of 28 February 2025 amounted to:
A) ₹31.45 lakh crore
B) ₹26.45 lakh crore
C) ₹41.45 lakh crore
D) ₹36.45 lakh crore

8. Over how many police officers were registered on the CyTrain portal?
A) 1,15,796
B) 95,796
C) 1,05,796
D) 1,25,796

9. CERT-In had facilitated how many cybersecurity mock drills as of March 2025?
A) 109
B) 89
C) 99
D) 119

10. CERT-In mock drills involved how many organisations?
A) 1,338
B) 1,438
C) 1,238
D) 1,538

11. NCIIPC is designated under which section of the Information Technology Act, 2000?
A) Section 72
B) Section 70A
C) Section 66
D) Section 69

12. I4C proactively blocked how many Skype IDs linked to cyber frauds?
A) 2,962
B) 4,462
C) 3,462
D) 3,962

13. I4C blocked how many WhatsApp accounts linked to cyber frauds?
A) 88,668
B) 73,668
C) 83,668
D) 78,668

14. Through CFCFRMS, financial institutions saved more than how much across over 17.82 lakh complaints?
A) ₹4,489 crore
B) ₹5,489 crore
C) ₹7,489 crore
D) ₹6,489 crore

15. Under the CCPWC Scheme, cyber forensic-cum-training laboratories were established across how many States and Union Territories?
A) 23
B) 36
C) 28
D) 33