National mission to protect India’s cyberspace launched, youth on-boarded as key firepower

Bengaluru: In a move to strengthen India’s national security architecture, the National Cyber Security Research Council (NCSRC) has been officially launched to counter the rapidly evolving threats in cyberspace.

With a broad vision to safeguard the country’s digital infrastructure, the council will drive cutting-edge research, develop protective technologies, and foster strategic collaboration with state and central government agencies, a release has said.

The formation of the NCSRC comes at a crucial time, as India — one of the most connected nations globally — faces growing and complex cyber threats across government, military, and civilian networks.

The Council will work in close coordination with agencies to identify vulnerabilities, conduct threat assessments, and implement robust defence strategies in national interest.

Under Dr. E. Khaliraj, Director, NCSRC, the council has already made strides in building national awareness and capacity.

Dr. Khaliraj, a veteran cybersecurity strategist, has led the council in executing over 150 awareness and social impact programms across India.

He is regarded for his commitment to democratizing cybersecurity knowledge and efforts in bringing cyber literacy to grassroots communities.

A strong advocate for ethical hacking, youth engagement, and technological innovation, Dr. Khaliraj has been instrumental in establishing more than 300 Cyber Resource Centres across the country.

As part of this nationwide mission, the council has launched Hackathon X, India’s largest and most prestigious Capture the Flag (CTF) competition in partnership with various government stakeholders.

Held from July 25–27 in Bengaluru, Hackathon X saw young cybersecurity enthusiasts aged 18–35 demonstrating their skills, solving real-world security challenges, and contributing to India’s cyber resilience.

The competition offered cash prizes of ₹1,00,000, ₹50,000, and ₹25,000, and saw students pursuing computer science, cybersecurity, or related fields in participation.

The event was graced by Dr. A.K. Anil Kumar, Director, ISRO, and Dr. Pranab Mohanty, Director-General of Police, Cyber Command, Government of Karnataka.