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Over 6.74 Lakh cybersecurity incidents were reported in the country in 2022 till June, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar informed the Parliament on Wednesday.

“CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) has reported that a total number of 14,02,809 and 6,74,021 cybersecurity incidents are observed during the year 2021 & 2022 (up to June) respectively,” Chandrasekhar said.

Reiterating the Centre’s stance, he said that the government is committed to ensure that the “Internet in India is Open, Safe and Trusted and Accountable for all users”. The minister was responding to a question about the risks of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure of the country in the Lok Sabha.

Chandrasekhar said that the government, via the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC), is aware of all critical information infrastructure that requires protection. 

In a written reply, the MoS further said that the government has taken a slew of initiatives to strengthen cyber security mechanisms. The implementation of the ‘Information Security Education and Awareness’ programme that seeks to create awareness regarding information security and to train government personnel in the domain is one such initiative.

The MoS also said that CERT-In has conducted mock cybersecurity drills to assess vulnerabilities in the system and ascertain preparedness of critical sectors. He noted that 67 such drills have been conducted so far which involved participation of 886 organisations from different states and sectors.

Chandrasekhar also highlighted that 11,305 government staff members and officers have undergone online training in cyber security. 

CERT-In regularly issues alerts and countermeasures to thwart any cyber security incidents. He also noted that the government agency operates different platforms for detection of malicious programs and for exchange for information regarding cyber threats to effectively deal with such issues. 

The reply also noted that the first phase of the National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) is operational. The NCCC is envisaged to generate necessary situational awareness of existing and potential cyber security threats. 

The MoS also said that CERT-In is working with other global enforcement agencies to coordinate issues related to cyber security. 

There has been a rise in cyberattacks in the country, including on critical infrastructure, in recent years. Earlier this month, it was reported that the country’s national cybersecurity strategy was under consideration at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Earlier this week, Flipkart-owned traveltech platform Cleartrip’s internal systems were hit by a major data breach. Last week, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) filed an FIR in connection with a cyber security incident involving its email system.

Besides, other critical infrastructure has also been under the spotlight over lax security systems. A report released earlier this year claimed that more than 3.6 Lakh cyberattacks were launched against Indian oil companies between October 2021 and April 12, 2022.