On April 28, 2025, the Institute of Cooperative Management (ICM), Dehradun, organized a workshop titled “Managing Cyber Fraud in Cooperative Banks” to mark the International Year of Cooperatives 2025. With officers from District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) of Uttarakhand in attendance, the event aimed to equip key banking personnel with practical strategies to combat the rising menace of cybercrime targeting the cooperative banking sector.
The inaugural session was presided over by Anil Kumar Tiwary, Director, ICM Dehradun, who emphasized the significance of cyber vigilance in a rapidly digitizing financial environment. Stressing the Union Government’s initiatives, he highlighted Home Minister Amit Shah’s vision to strengthen cooperative institutions while cautioning against emerging digital threats that could derail the sector’s revival and growth story.
Expert-Led Discussions: From Cyber Crisis Management to Legal Safeguards
Prof. Triveni Singh, Ex-IPS officer and one of India’s leading cybercrime experts, conducted detailed sessions focusing on:
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The landscape of cyber threats targeting the banking sector
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How to detect and investigate a cyber incident effectively
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Implementing preventive measures to minimize exposure to cyber fraud
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Understanding regulatory frameworks and legal compliance requirements
Drawing from real-world investigations and recent incidents, Prof. Singh illustrated how cybercriminals exploit technological vulnerabilities and the human element to attack smaller cooperative banks, often seen as easy targets due to limited cybersecurity infrastructure.
He stressed the importance of proactive crisis management, regular cyber audits, real-time monitoring systems, and employee cyber hygiene training to build resilience against attacks.
“In today’s era, it’s not a matter of if a cyber attack will happen, but when,” Prof. Singh warned, urging cooperative banks to move beyond outdated security practices.
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The workshop was structured into multiple sessions, with key topics such as banking sector vulnerabilities, early detection frameworks, and compliance under IT and Banking laws being covered in detail.
Policy Push and Future Roadmap for Cooperative Banks
The discussions also reflected the larger policy momentum around cooperatives under Amit Shah’s leadership at the Ministry of Cooperation. There is an active push to modernize cooperative banks technologically while ensuring robust governance structures are in place to resist cyber-attacks.
Participants agreed that while digitization offers great opportunities, it equally demands enhanced cyber resilience. The workshop concluded with a call to action for cooperative banks to prioritize cybersecurity as a critical boardroom issue, not merely a backend IT function.