Senior government officials, cybersecurity specialists, and technology leaders gathered in Lucknow to discuss the importance of mass awareness and collective digital training in safeguarding India's growing cyber ecosystem from evolving online threats.
At the Empower Governance with Technology conclave, jointly organized by The Economic Times and Cisco India, experts highlighted the necessity of educating individuals from all sectors on online safety, data protection, and financial security as India accelerates its digital transformation.
Advisor to CM Awanish Kumar Awasthi emphasized that technology plays a vital role in modern governance, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and citizen service delivery. He mentioned the state government's proactive measures to bolster digital security, including plans for a dedicated Cyber Security Centre at the headquarters level.
Vinod Karumampoyil, director at Cisco India & SAARC, presented on Connecting and Protecting Networks in the AI Era, underscoring the criticality of secure digital infrastructure in public governance.
Binod Kumar Singh, DG Cyber and CID, stressed the importance of immediate reporting of online financial frauds, citing a successful case where Rs 47 lakh out of Rs 57 lakh stolen by cyber criminals was frozen in time. He highlighted the Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre in Lucknow, involving major banks, for swift fund freezing post-fraud reporting.
Anurag Yadav, principal secretary of IT & Electronics, shared Uttar Pradesh's initiatives like comprehensive SOPs, security audits, and defined roles for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) to safeguard government IT assets and implement national advisories.
Neha Jain, special secretary of IT & Electronics, emphasized the need for cybersecurity awareness to extend beyond specialists, advocating for basic online safety training for all citizens, including law enforcement and civil society.
Shubham Patel, SP Technical Services, highlighted efforts such as the Trinetra App and training of cyber commandos in each district to combat rising cyber fraud. Pankaj Kumar, MD of Power Corporation, discussed leveraging technology to modernize the power network and enhance protection against cyber threats.
The event concluded with Cisco India showcasing AI-based governance applications for smart traffic management, digital agriculture, and public safety systems, demonstrating technology's role in urban sustainability, pollution reduction, and citizen service enhancement through data-driven innovation.
Reference from News: 'Essential to educate people from all walks of life about online safety' | Lucknow News - The Times of India