India’s digital transformation has advanced rapidly over the past decade. With more than 86% of households now online, the Digital India initiative has helped connect citizens, businesses, and services like never before. However, this growing connectivity has also exposed millions to rising cybersecurity risks and financial fraud.
According to official government data, reported cybersecurity incidents have more than doubled, from 10.29 lakh in 2022 to 22.68 lakh in 2024. Experts say this rise not only reflects a more complex threat environment but also improved mechanisms for tracking and reporting attacks.
By February 2025, complaints worth ₹36.45 lakh in total had been filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), revealing the scale of digital financial fraud in the country.
The Changing Face of Cyber Frauds
Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their methods. Traditional scams like phishing and spoofing where fraudsters pretend to represent banks or companies are now being replaced by more advanced schemes. Some use artificial intelligence to generate convincing fake voices or videos, making deception harder to detect.
A major area of exploitation involves India’s popular Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Attackers have been using compromised mobile numbers to steal funds. In response, the Department of Telecommunications introduced the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI), which identifies phone numbers showing suspicious financial activity.
Another serious concern is the surge of illegal online betting and gaming applications. Investigations suggest these platforms have collectively generated over ₹400 crore through deceptive schemes. To address this, the government passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which bans online money gaming while supporting legitimate e-sports and social gaming activities.
India’s legal and institutional framework for cybersecurity continues to expand. The Information Technology Act, 2000, remains the backbone of cyber law, supported by newer policies such as the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which reinforces users’ privacy rights and lawful data handling. The Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code, 2021, also make digital platforms more accountable for the content they host.
The Union Budget 2025–26 allocated ₹782 crore for national cybersecurity initiatives. The government has already blocked over 9.42 lakh SIM cards and 2.63 lakh IMEIs associated with fraudulent activity. Through the CyTrain portal, over one lakh police officers have received training in digital forensics and cybercrime investigation.
National Coordination and Citizen Awareness
Agencies like CERT-In and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) are central to India’s cyber response system. CERT-In has conducted over 100 cyber drills involving more than 1,400 organizations to assess preparedness. I4C’s “Samanvaya” and “Sahyog” platforms enable coordination across states and assist in removing harmful online content.
The government’s helpline number 1930 and the cybercrime portal cybercrime.gov.in provide citizens with direct channels to report cyber incidents. Awareness campaigns through radio, newspapers, and social media further aim to educate the public on online safety.
A Shared Responsibility
India’s expanding digital frontier holds immense promise, but it also demands shared responsibility. With stronger laws, institutional coordination, and public vigilance, India can continue to drive its digital progress while keeping citizens safe from cyber threats.
