Govt taking steps to curb cyber frauds: Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia
Empower your mind, elevate your skills
The government is taking various measures, including setting up the Digital Intelligence Platform , to curb cyber frauds, Union Communication minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Wednesday.He also highlighted that international spoofed calls have come down by 97%.The communications and home ministries have taken four to five major measures to deal with cyber crimes , he told the Lok Sabha.The Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) brings various stakeholders together.It has coopted 620 institutions, including 570 banks, police institutions of 36 states and investigating agencies, Scindia said during the Question Hour. Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) software is being used wherein the data about individuals doing fraud with banks are categorised into various categories. The details are provided to all the banks and the transaction of such individuals are blocked, he said.In his written reply, Scindia said the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) undertakes efforts to prevent misuse of telecom resources for cyber frauds."Based on cyber fraud cases reported on National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), DoT has disconnected 3.57 lakh mobile numbers of which highest number of mobile connections are from Rajasthan, Bihar and West Bengal."Further, DoT has developed an indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data analytic tool ASTR to identify suspected mobile connections taken by same person in different names. More than 82 lakhs such connections have been disconnected after failing reverification process," he said.DoT has also put in place a robust Know Your Customer (KYC) framework for issuing mobile connections to subscribers.Scindia said DoT has also amended existing KYC instructions and introduced business connections framework where KYC of each end-user is made mandatory before activation."In addition, a robust KYC process for SIM Swap/replacement has also been introduced," he added.Responding to a supplementary question, Scindia said state-owned BSNL and MTNL are back on the road to recovery.The minister mentioned about the review meeting of BSNL this week, and said a business plan will be prepared, especially for each business circle.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Rural, Semi-Urban Areas Record Sharpest Rise As India Sees Over 400% Uptick In Cyber Crimes
Last Updated: According to officials, the explosion in cases can be traced to rapid smartphone adoption, growing use of UPI and online banking, and a lack of basic cybersecurity knowledge India has witnessed an alarming 400 per cent spike in cybercrime incidents over the past four years, marking a dramatic shift from urban-centric threats to a deeply entrenched nationwide cybercrime web. States like Telangana, Gujarat, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha have emerged as unexpected hotspots—away from metros—reflecting the rapid digital infiltration and rising vulnerabilities across rural and semi-urban India with the highest growth in cases reported. According to the official data of Ministry of Home Affairs, earlier, the concerns were attached to urban areas, primarily metropolitan cities. But, with unexpected surges in rural and semi-urban states such as Bihar, Odisha, Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh, the concerns and cyber crime have grown pan India, spreading its network of victims. Data compiled by the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) shows that the total number of cyber-crime incidents reported in the country rose from 4,52,429 in 2021 to 22,68,346 in 2024. In just the first half of 2025 alone, 12,47,393 cases have already been logged, putting India on course to surpass last year's record by a significant margin. This explosion in numbers—an approximate 401 per cent increase from 2021 to 2024—marks one of the most aggressive digital crime growth rates globally. Some of the highest growth rates have come from states not traditionally known for high cybercrime activity. Telangana saw over 1,000 per cent jump in cyber-crime incidents reported by Centre's I4C. Odisha, for example, reported just 6,053 cases in 2021, which rose to 53,488 in 2024—an increase of 783 per cent. Gujarat witnessed an even more dramatic jump—from 18,159 cases in 2021 to 1,67,892 in 2024, marking an 825 per cent spike of complaints logged, the second-highest among all major states. Karnataka, one of India's key tech centres, saw a rise from 19,609 to 1,69,384 cases—a 764 per cent increase. Maharashtra, the state with the highest number of cumulative cybercrime cases in 2024, reported 3,03,173 incidents, up from 40,987 in 2021, amounting to a 640 per cent increase. Bihar, which had just 13,911 cases in 2021, raised 99,512 cyber-crime incidents in 2024, a rise of 615 per cent, highlighting how deeply digital fraud is taking root in states with growing digital penetration. Himachal Pradesh, considered low-risk in terms of digital crime, has witnessed a six-fold increase from 2,024 in 2021 to 13,990 in 2024—a 591 per cent surge. Even Jammu & Kashmir, which logged 2,515 incidents in 2021, recorded 15,088 in 2024, an increase of 499 per cent. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh followed suit, with increases of 256 per cent and 436 per cent respectively over the same period. The story is similar in several other states. Uttar Pradesh, while was already among the highest in absolute numbers, went from 72,740 cases in 2021 to 3,01,057 in 2024, an increase of 314 per cent. Delhi, often perceived as well-policed and aware, saw a rise from 53,093 to 1,52,987, up 188 per cent. Across all states and Union Territories, the cumulative number of cybercrime complaints reported rose to more than 67 lakh in less than five years. Low Digital Literacy, High vulnerabilities According to officials, this explosion in cases can be traced to a combination of factors, which includes rapid smartphone adoption, growing use of UPI and online banking, and a lack of basic cybersecurity knowledge—especially in semi-urban and rural areas. With first-time internet users increasingly transacting online, cybercriminals are exploiting their unfamiliarity with phishing tactics, fake investment schemes, impersonation fraud, and malware attacks. What MHA is doing The government has launched several initiatives to stem the tide. The Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting System and the 1930 helpline have reportedly helped save over Rs 5,489 crore in 17.8 lakh complaints. According to a reply given in Parliament, MHA apprised that over 9.42 lakh SIM cards and 2.63 lakh IMEIs have been blocked to disrupt digital fraud networks. State-level forensic-cum-training laboratories have been established in 33 states and UTs, and more than 24,600 police and judicial officers have been trained on cybercrime investigation and response. Platforms like Samanvaya and CyTrain are now helping law-enforcement agencies track interstate cybercrime rings and train officers through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). However, the scale of the challenge continues to outpace existing infrastructure and human resource capacity. view comments First Published: August 04, 2025, 10:40 IST News india Rural, Semi-Urban Areas Record Sharpest Rise As India Sees Over 400% Uptick In Cyber Crimes Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
Stocks to watch: ITC, Tata Investment, Tata Power, MCX among shares in focus today
Shares of DLF, Tata Investment Corp, Siemens, Marico, Aurobindo Pharma will remain in focus as the companies are all set to announces Q1 results 2025 today. The FMCG giant delivered a mixed performance in the first quarter. Revenue jumped 20.6% year-on-year to ₹ 19,749 crore, surpassing expectations, while EBITDA saw a modest increase of 2.9%, reaching ₹ 6,261 crore. Tata Power posted a 9% increase in its consolidated net profit for the first quarter, reaching ₹ 1,060 crore, up from ₹ 970 crore in the same period last year. Delhivery announced its Q1 earnings, reporting a 67% year-on-year increase in net profit to ₹ 91 crore. The company reported a 4.4% year-on-year rise in net profit for the June quarter, reaching ₹ 1,364 crore, up from ₹ 1,306 crore in the same period last year. The Kerala-based bank reported a 14.7% year-on-year decline in its net profit for Q1FY26, falling to ₹ 861.8 crore. The company has secured an advance work order from BSNL valued at ₹ 166.38 crore for service-related tasks, with the project scheduled for completion by July 31, 2028, according to the terms specified in BSNL's AWO. MCX reported a strong performance in Q1FY26, with net profit jumping 49.9% quarter-on-quarter to ₹ 203 crore, while revenue rose 28.2% to ₹ 373 crore. PNB Housing Finance revealed a major leadership reshuffle, which includes changes among senior management and the resignation of its chief executive. The infrastructure company reported a robust 57% year-on-year increase in net profit, reaching ₹ 244 crore for the first quarter of FY26. Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, not Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
Battle for 'captive' may intensify again: Telcos vs tech giants over hugely monetisable use case for 5G spectrum
A renewed attempt by the telecom department to ascertain demand for direct allocation of spectrum for setting up private captive 5G networks is set to ignite a fresh battle among technology and telecom companies, say industry executives. The fundamental disagreement revolves around control and making profits from private 5G spectrum and services, long touted as the most significant monetisable use case for 5G, executives said. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Others Cybersecurity healthcare Digital Marketing Data Analytics Degree Finance Project Management PGDM MBA Leadership Public Policy Technology Product Management others Data Science Healthcare MCA Data Science Management Operations Management Artificial Intelligence CXO Design Thinking Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 16 Weeks Indian School of Business CERT-ISB Transforming HR with Analytics & AI India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 28 Weeks MICA CERT-MICA SBMPR Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 months IIM Lucknow SEPO - IIML CHRO India Starts on undefined Get Details "Telcos will seek to maintain their market dominance and aim to monetise their 5G investments, while enterprises will seek direct control for operational efficiency, security, and innovation tailored to their specific use cases," an industry executive said. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently ordered a fresh study-three years after an initial one-to assess the demand potential for setting up private networks through spectrum given directly by DoT to companies. The first attempt saw interest from more than 20 companies including Infosys , Capgemini, GMR, Larsen & Toubro, Tata Communications , Tata Power , and Tejas Networks . However, the DoT later concluded that the device ecosystem was not yet ready to support the use case. Like in 2022, telcos this time too are opposing any move to directly allocate 5G spectrum, demanding the Centre to mandate setting up private networks by telcos themselves, or by leasing spectrum from them. Corporations and tech system integrators, on the other hand, have been seeking direct spectrum allocation . Live Events Telcos and tech biggies & cos at loggerheads over hugely monetisable use case for 5G spectrum "During the time of spectrum auction, the quantum of spectrum and its valuation were benchmarked, keeping in mind that the licensed access service providers of networks will be meeting the demands of private 5G spectrum by enterprises," said Lt. Gen S.P Kocchar, director general, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents private telcos Bharti Airtel , Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea . Kocchar added that direct allocation of spectrum to enterprises will result in spectrum fragmentation and allow back-door entry to enterprises in providing commercial telecom services without regulatory or financial compliances. Tech companies are terming DoT's latest move as yet another delaying tactic to protect spectrum holdings of telcos, while telcos say they have adequate 4G/5G spectrum to meet any requirement of enterprises. Broadband India Forum, which counts tech firms like Facebook, Google, Cisco, Amazon, Tata Consultancy Services , Microsoft, and Intel as its members, said there are enough international precedents where spectrum leasing or direct licencing of spectrum for private networks is permitted, citing models in the US, Finland, Australia, and Denmark. It added other nations including China, Germany, and the UK have thousands of private networks, with India lagging far behind. critical applications BIF president TV Ramachandran said there is clearly a lot of demand from the industry for private 5G, not for making calls, but for critical applications like industrial automation , healthcare services, and logistics solutions. "These applications require very high levels of non-failure requirements and reliability, and need low latency and strong security, which enterprises believe are best ensured through dedicated networks or direct control," Ramachandran told ET. Private networks, he said, will require very small allocation of spectrum, often just around 100 MHz, within a limited campus for internal use, which would not impact public networks. Digital services provider Tata Communications, which has developed capabilities to deploy private 5G networks for enterprises, said adoption of the 5G captive network use case would have been accelerated had the government allowed direct allocation in 2022 itself. "Originally for private 5G to take off, we had advocated that enterprises should be given spectrum privately for limited use for their areas and that would have accelerated some people to try it out," Amur Lakshminarayanan, CEO, Tata Communications told ET. He added that Tata Communications now has to approach another company-likely a telco-which already holds spectrum for trials with enterprises, as a stopgap solution. "The ecosystem has to develop and the government has to make sure that it becomes affordable for people to implement private 5G, which is distinct from public 5G which mobile operators are deploying on a large scale," Lakshminarayanan said. However, DoT has now highlighted that during recent analysis, it was observed that the device ecosystem for captive private networks is mostly available in the IMT band, which is used for mobile telephony services, and that 5G technology has also considerably advanced with varied use cases. "Also, system integrators are keenly interested in establishing CNPN based networks," it said, as the rationale for the fresh demand study.
