In a forward-looking move to enhance the security, resilience, and digital readiness of India’s rapidly growing payments ecosystem, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 12, 2025. This strategic alliance is designed to address the evolving cybersecurity challenges in India’s financial services sector by equipping professionals with training, certification, and access to cutting-edge cyber intelligence tools.
The MoU marks a vital step in strengthening India’s digital public infrastructure, aligning with national goals of secure, inclusive, and tech-driven financial services.
A Timely Collaboration Amid Rising Cyber Threats
With India witnessing exponential growth in digital transactions—largely due to innovations like UPI, IMPS, and RuPay—the MoU comes at a critical juncture. As adoption of electronic payments deepens across urban and rural India, so does the surface area for cyberattacks, phishing, and frauds.
Recognizing this challenge, NPCI and IDRBT aim to:
- Build cyber-resilience in the retail and digital payments landscape
- Introduce certified training programmes for cybersecurity and data privacy professionals
- Strengthen the skill sets of existing banking personnel
- Promote proactive cyber risk mitigation strategies within financial institutions
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Importantly, the partnership will provide access to the revamped threat intelligence platform, सचेत (IBCART 3.0), which will serve as a nerve center for real-time alerts and sector-wide threat coordination.
What the MoU Delivers: Training, Certification, Threat Intel
The agreement sets forth a structured plan to develop talent, increase awareness, and build strong cyber defense layers through:
- Joint training initiatives for banking, fintech, and payment professionals
- Certification programs tailored to regulatory and operational requirements in India
- Specialized courses on data protection, incident response, and fraud detection
- Use of IDRBT’s upgraded platform सचेत (IBCART 3.0) for cyber threat intelligence and response coordination
This initiative is expected to benefit both urban and rural banking ecosystems, ensuring inclusivity in capability-building efforts. Through this MoU, a comprehensive cybersecurity framework is being seeded across the banking sector, addressing the supply gap of skilled cyber professionals.
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About NPCI
Established under the guidance of the RBI and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), NPCI is India’s umbrella organization for retail payment and settlement systems. Known for launching transformative products like UPI, RuPay, AePS, NACH, and e-RUPI, NPCI plays a pivotal role in expanding financial inclusion and building secure payment architecture.
About IDRBT
Founded in 1996 by the Reserve Bank of India, IDRBT is the premier institute for research and development in banking technology. It has led innovations like INFINET, SFMS, and the National Financial Switch. The institute runs critical forums like the CISO, CIO, and CAO networks, which shape India’s banking technology evolution. Its सचेत (IBCART 3.0) platform is designed to serve as a centralized hub for cybersecurity alerts and intelligence dissemination across the banking network.
Building a Secure and Skilled Financial Future
The NPCI-IDRBT partnership signifies a new era of collaboration to secure India’s financial systems. As cyber threats grow in sophistication, this MoU not only addresses current gaps but also prepares the ecosystem for future digital risks. With its focus on training, intelligence sharing, and certification, this initiative will bolster India’s defense against financial cybercrime while promoting a culture of cyber awareness and preparedness.
“This collaboration is a significant milestone in creating a secure digital public infrastructure in India,” an NPCI official remarked. “It will empower our sector with skilled manpower, certified standards, and cutting-edge threat intelligence.”