India to Deploy 5,000 Cyber Commandos in 5 Years to Combat Cyber Threats: Amit Shah

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Tuesday that 5,000 cyber commandos will be trained over the next five years to counter cyber threats and attacks.

Speaking at the first foundation day of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Shah emphasised the importance of cybersecurity in national security, stating, “The country’s growth is not possible without ensuring cybersecurity.”

The cyber commandos, a specialised group of police officers, will respond promptly to cyber threats.

Shah also inaugurated a ‘suspect registry’, a centralised database that stores details of criminals involved in cyber and financial frauds. This registry, built on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), will be accessible to states, union territories and central agencies, enhancing fraud risk management in collaboration with banks and financial institutions.

Shah stressed the need for unified data, saying, “Having data in silos won’t help in fighting cybercriminals who operate without boundaries.” He urged all stakeholders to collaborate to combat cybercrime effectively.

Additionally, Shah introduced the Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC), which will coordinate efforts between banks, financial intermediaries, telecom service providers, and law enforcement agencies to combat online financial crimes. The home minister also launched the Samanvaya platform, a web-based portal designed to facilitate cybercrime investigations, data sharing, crime mapping and coordination among law enforcement agencies across the country.

I4C was established in 2018 under the Ministry of Home Affairs to create a national-level coordination centre for cybercrime and enhance the capabilities of law enforcement agencies in addressing cyber threats.