Policy Watch
MHA Issues Circular Establishing Special Wing of Cyber Commandos in All States
The Ministry of Home Affairs has initiated a plan to establish a Special Wing of Cyber Commandos to counter cyber threats. This project aims to train 5,000 commandos over five years. The first batch of 246 personnel is already undergoing training at prestigious institutions, including IITs and National Forensic Science Universities. The next batch’s selection process is scheduled for December 2024.
In an effort to enhance India’s cyber defense capabilities, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced the establishment of a Special Wing of Cyber Commandos. This initiative, launched under the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C), aims to address the growing concerns of cyber threats faced by the nation. The Hon’ble Prime Minister had emphasized the need for such a force during conferences held in 2023 and 2024, highlighting the critical need for well-trained professionals to safeguard India’s digital infrastructure.
The ambitious plan sets out to train 5,000 Cyber Commandos over the course of five years. These commandos will be drawn from various ranks within the police organizations of States, Union Territories (UTs), and Central Police Organizations (CPOs), and will be chosen based on their knowledge of computer networks and operating systems. Once trained, the Cyber Commandos will serve as a national resource, embedded within their parent organizations, but expected to specialize in fields like digital forensics, incident response, and ICT infrastructure security.
The first cohort, consisting of 246 personnel, is already undergoing intensive six-month training at some of India’s premier technical institutions, such as IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIIT Kottayam, and others. Their training program includes hands-on sessions, industry exposure, and field visits designed to prepare them for real-world cyber security challenges. These personnel were selected following a rigorous screening process conducted across the country in February 2024.
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Looking ahead, the Ministry has announced that the next round of recruitment will take place on December 8, 2024, through another national screening test. All police organizations have been directed to nominate candidates with strong technical foundations by November 10, 2024, as part of the effort to bolster India’s cyber defense capabilities.
This initiative reflects the growing urgency to build a robust defense mechanism against cyberattacks and to equip law enforcement agencies with the tools and expertise necessary to secure the nation’s digital space.
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