EC-Council Releases CEH Hall of Fame 2025 Industry Report
Tampa (Florida) [US], July 10: EC-Council, creator of the world-renowned Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) credential, has unveiled its highly anticipated CEH Hall of Fame 2025 Industry Report a comprehensive analysis spotlighting the world's most accomplished ethical hackers and the transformative power of CEH certification on careers, industries, and national security.
This data- driven report offers an unfiltered view of how CEH is transforming individual careers and strengthening the global cybersecurity workforce's ability to counter the next generation of digital threats. To capture these dynamics, the CEH Hall of Fame 2025 Industry Report is organized around four key areas of impact: Career Advancement, Industry Recognition, Hands-On Proficiency, and Skills Gained.
The CEH Hall of Fame inductees were drawn from candidates who scored 90% or higher on the CEH certification exam. Following this initial benchmark, 460 finalists from 93 countries were shortlisted and further assessed on demonstrated leadership, real-world contributions, community engagement, innovation in mitigating emerging threats, and clear career progression. From this elite group, 100 professionals were inducted into the Hall of Fame, representing the forefront of ethical hacking excellence.
Drawing from the extensive experiences and professional journeys of the CEH Hall of Fame finalists and inductees, the report highlights the concrete career benefits and practical skills gained through the CEH program.
"This year's Hall of Fame showcases the extraordinary caliber of cybersecurity professionals shaping the future of global digital defense," said Jay Bavisi, Group President, EC-Council. "These inductees have elevated ethical hacking to a strategic discipline, where their expertise not only protects critical systems but actively drives organizational growth, resilience, and trust. Their leadership exemplifies how technical excellence, and forward-thinking are now essential to navigating the digital world with confidence."
Key takeaways from the CEH Hall of Fame 2025 Industry Report:
- 100% of respondents reported increased respect and recognition in the workplace after earning the CEH.
- 100% said they would recommend CEH certification to peers.
- 99% affirmed that CEH had a positive impact on their careers.
- 99% found the virtual labs critical in developing real-world hacking skills.
- 97% confirmed CEH's effectiveness in addressing emerging threats and trends.
- 91% believe CEH gave them a competitive edge over other cybersecurity certifications.
Bavisi concluded, "The CEH Hall of Fame 2025 Industry Report not only reflects the incredible achievements of these professionals but also signals the growing influence of ethical hackers in shaping the future of cybersecurity. As these leaders continue to advance their expertise, they are setting new standards for the profession and ensuring organizations are prepared to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world."
Looking ahead, EC-Council has expanded its forward-thinking vision by launching the Certified Ethical Hacker Powered with AI Capabilities program. Structured around the "Learn, Certify, Engage, and Compete" framework, this next-generation program integrates immersive labs, real-world simulations, and mapped pathways to more than 45+ cybersecurity job roles, ensuring professionals are prepared to defend against today's most sophisticated threats.
Get the Full CEH Hall of Fame 2025 Industry Report
Access the complete data-driven insights on how ethical hacking is driving career growth and strengthening global cyber resilience. Don't miss out - read the full report now!
Download the report here.
EC-Council is the creator of the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) program and a leader in cybersecurity education. Founded in 2001, EC-Council's mission is to provide high-quality training and certifications for cybersecurity professionals to keep organizations safe from cyber threats. EC-Council offers over 200 certifications and degrees in various cybersecurity domains, including forensics, security analysis, threat intelligence, and information security.
An ISO/IEC 17024 accredited organization, EC-Council has certified over 350,000 professionals worldwide, with clients ranging from government agencies to Fortune 100 companies. EC-Council is the gold standard in cybersecurity certification, trusted by the U.S. Department of Defense, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and leading global corporations.
For more information, visit: www.eccouncil.org.
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The Hindu
15 hours ago
- The Hindu
Adani-Ambuja in Spotlight over Chandrapur Land Grab
Published : Aug 06, 2025 18:52 IST - 12 MINS READ Land has always been at a premium in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district because of its wealth in natural resources and minerals, be it coal, iron ore, or limestone, which explains the presence of many big corporations in this region. Now, a new game of land grab is at play in the district, especially in Korpana tehsil, known for its limestone deposits and the cement industries that have mushroomed here over the past 30 years. Korpana tehsil lies at the border of Maharashtra and Telangana. Since 2001, Ambuja Cements (formerly Gujarat Ambuja Cement Ltd) has had an integrated cement plant in Korpana's Gadchandur city. Gadchandur, also known as 'cement city', is home to several large cement factories belonging to companies such as Ambuja Cements, Maratha Cement Works, Ultratech Cement, and Dalmia Cement, and they source limestone from the nearby villages. For one such project, namely the Nandgaon-Ekodi limestone mine, Ambuja Cements applied for environmental clearance (EC) for limestone mining on a land parcel of 369.52 hectares spread across four villages: Nandgaon, Ekodi, Kawthala, and Bhoyegaon. A public hearing was held as part of the EC process on January 29, 2021, details of which are available on the government's Parivesh portal. In the public hearing, several farmers, including Kawthala's then sarpanch Naresh Satpute, also affected by the project, put forth some demands. They wanted the land deals to be completed by May 31, 2021; one member of each 7/12 extract (a revenue document that gives details of land ownership) to be given a job in the company; and farmers to get Rs.50 lakh per acre and compensation of Rs.30 lakh each if they were not given jobs. (These are recorded in the minutes of the public hearing.) Also Read | Karnataka farmers refuse to give up fertile land for Aerospace Park As per the minutes, Ambuja Cements replied: 'After receipt of EC, land acquisition process will be carried out,' that indicating that the farmers' demands would be considered after acquisition. The company also said that there would not be 'any mediator involved during the process of land acquisition' and that the agreements would be 'between the project proponent & landowner only'. Ambuja Cements was granted the EC in August 2022. In September 2022, the Adani Group acquired Ambuja Cements and its subsidiary ACC Ltd for $10.5 billion (roughly Rs.81,000 crore) in what the pink press called the group's largest ever acquisition and India's largest ever M&A (merger and acquisition) deal in the infrastructure and materials space. However, the company did not initiate work on the limestone project. Then, in the monsoon months of 2024, a group of people descended on the four villages. Naresh Satpute said: 'Nitin Zade from Ambuja Cements said the process of buying land would start soon. We knew Nitin because he is from a nearby village and had been working at Ambuja Cements' Gadchandur plant for many years.' The farmers were initially hesitant to sell because the company's offer price was too low. 'They were offering us Rs.25 lakh per acre. We were not ready to sell,' said Satpute. Land sales begin Then, he added, in late 2024 Sudhir Mungantiwar, the BJP MLA from Ballarpur in Chandrapur district and a former Cabinet Minister, met them in Chandrapur. 'There, the company people offered Rs.35 lakh per acre. Mungantiwar told us farmers that we should now sell the land to the company or MIDC [Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation] would come in and we won't get even this amount.' At this point, the farmers began to sell their land at Rs.35 lakh per acre to the 'company people'. However, when they went to the registrar's office in Korpana Block Office, they found that the buyer was not Ambuja Cements but a different company. Satpute said: 'However, we still signed the papers because Rs.35 lakh per acre was a large amount. Also, once all the farmers began to accept the cheques, who will oppose?' (The EC mentions Rs.72 lakh per hectare as the compensation amount.) Satpute's family sold 12 acres. The registration process for 10 acres has been completed and the remaining two acres are in the process of being sold at the time of filing this report. New buyers Soon, the farmers realised that each of them was selling to a different buyer. Bebitai Madan Satpute, Naresh Satpute's mother, sold her land to Victorlane Projects Pvt. Ltd, while a farmer named Nandkishor Thakre, also of Kawthala village, sold his land to Vihay Realtors Pvt. Ltd. In total, 13 such companies bought the land where Ambuja Cements was supposed to start a limestone mine. Enquiries by Frontline revealed that all 13 companies are registered at the same address: 103 and 104 Ramsukh House, Thube Park, Shivajinagar, Pune. This address also appears on the sale deeds registered in the Korpana registrar office. One of the names figuring in the sale deeds is that of Tushar Satywan Gajbhiye. When contacted on June 17, Gajbhiye claimed that all the paperwork was legal and promised to call back with more responses but did not. Nitin Shamsundar Zade, who interacted with the farmers on the land sale, was the land acquisition officer in Ambuja Cements' Gadchandur division for many years and is a familiar figure in the area. Zade was made an additional director in all 13 companies on a single day: February 27, 2025. When contacted by Frontline, Zade said he could not talk without permission from his bosses. Asked if he was still working at Ambuja Cements, he did not give a straight answer. Further enquiries revealed that 7 of the directors in these 13 companies are current or former employees of Ambuja Cements, ACC, or linked companies. All 13 companies are part of the Rucha Group of companies, according to Shailendra Rathi, the group's land acquisition officer. The group's beneficial owner (with 95 per cent shares) is Raj Rajeshwar Projects LLP, a company incorporated in May 2022 and owned by Prashant Nilawar, who was implicated in the Rs.1,000 crore Buldana cooperative society scam of 2021. The Buldana scam involved a money laundering operation to conceal alleged proceeds from corruption within Maharashtra's Public Works Department. Rucha group Speaking to Frontline, Rathi said: 'We are in the land banking business. We buy land at various locations. Sometimes we develop them. So, in these four villages too, we have bought land.' Asked why the group was buying the land, he said: 'There is no concrete proposal right now. We are just buying it.' On whether the group companies were buying the land for Ambuja Cements, Rathi said: 'We have nothing to do with Ambuja Cements. We are buying the land for ourselves.' Regarding the environmental clearance for limestone mining, he said: 'We don't know the history. There could be some clearance given, but that was long ago, in 2021 [the EC was actually given in August 2022]. We have been buying land over the last few months.' Asked if the group would sell the land to Ambuja Cements, Rathi said: 'The company has not thought about it.' On whether the Rucha Group had asked Sudhir Mungantiwar to contact the farmers, Rathi said: 'We have no idea whether Mungantiwarji met the farmers or not. We have nothing to do with him, and we are not in touch with him.' Asked if it could be a breach of law were Rucha Group to sell the land to Ambuja Cements in future, Rathi said: 'No such question arises; we have not thought about selling as of now.' Rathi admitted that Gajbhiye was an employee of his company. On Nitin Zade, he said: 'He is our local man. We made him director for extending help locally.' When asked if Zade was also an employee of Ambuja Cements, Rathi said: 'I am not aware of that. It is possible he could be working for them. We don't have an issue with where Zade works locally.' Too many red flags It is quite a coincidence that Zade was the land acquisition officer for Ambuja Cements and that Rathi's companies made him a director for acquiring the same land for which Ambuja Cements had acquired an EC. Rathi said: 'We were not aware of Zade's association with Ambuja.' Since the land parcels fall in Korpana tehsil and are part of the proposed mining site, Frontline reached out to Pallavi Akhare, the tehsildar of Korpana. She said: 'I have no idea about the land being sold. I have asked my colleagues to find out what is happening.' Both the tehsildar and other local administration officials claimed to be ignorant of the enormous land deals taking place in their jurisdiction. Why did ACC pay Rs.100 cr more to acquire Rucha Group? Strangely, ACC paid Rs.298.61 crore to acquire the Rucha Group companies that had already bought the land parcels. paying almost Rs.100 crore more than it would have had it acquired the land directly from the farmers. When contacted, Sudhir Mungantiwar said: 'I have neither asked nor forced anyone to sell the land. A few local BJP workers came to me and told me that the company is buying only 300 acres. The other [tracts of] land close to the proposed project land would also be affected. These farmers won't be able to do agricultural work there. So, these workers were demanding that the company buy all the land there. I told the District Collector that it is a genuine issue, and to ensure that all farmers concerned get proper compensation, and the company buys all the land concerned. My relation to this case ends here.' As for companies other than Ambuja Cements buying the land, Mungantiwar said: 'I am not aware who bought the land. I only know the farmers are happy that they got good compensation.' Legal angle Speaking to Frontline, Lara Jesani, a well-known advocate of the Bombay High Court, said: 'The EC specifies the compensation payable by Ambuja Cements to the farmers for their land being taken over for the project. Ambuja Cements alone is the project proponent in the EC and the terms and conditions of the EC bind the company.' Regarding the 13 other companies buying the land, she said: 'Ambuja Cements ought to be paying compensation to the farmers for the project land as per the EC. If it is found that companies purportedly related to Ambuja Cements in some ways have bought the land, it must be investigated. The authorities have to investigate if the terms of transfer and the compensation payable to the farmers were followed in these sales.' Jesani added that the authorities need to check whether the EC's terms have been complied with. The EIA Notification, 2006, states that an environmental impact assessment (EIA) study must necessarily include social impact assessment and rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) issues. They include a plan for resettlement, compensation to affected people, alternative livelihood concerns/employment for affected people, and so on. Ambuja Cements' promises In the EC, Ambuja Cements agreed to pay compensation in three parts: 40 per cent lump sum, 40 per cent in the form of fixed deposits, and 20 per cent in the form of annuities (such as LIC policies). It also agreed, inter alia, to identify alternative land for farming, organise vocational and skills training, and make a one-time (livelihood) payment of Rs.5 lakh per project-affected family. The entitlement matrix was derived on the basis of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, known as the LARR Act. It includes extra compensation for vulnerable families and consideration for project employment. Also, if additional impacts are identified during implementation, the entitlement matrix is updated. Since the Rucha Group companies purchased the project land instead of the project proponent, none of these R&R conditions have been met. Official response In response to Frontline's questions, Ambuja Cements replied with a statement that said: 'The [land] acquisition was facilitated through multiple special purpose vehicles, which are wholly owned subsidiaries of Ambuja Cements.' The Rucha Group companies bought the land in 2024. But, as per Ambuja Cements' annual reports and stock market filings, the companies became subsidiaries via a share purchase agreement only in February 2025. Also Read | Whose future? Ambuja Cements also said in its statement that the 'method of acquisition, whether direct or through subsidiaries, does not alter the legal ownership or the intended use of the land'. But earlier, at the public hearing, the company had promised that there would be no mediator and that the purchase agreements would be between project proponent and landowner only. In its statement, Ambuja Cements further said: 'Any questions raised around alleged job assurances stem from unilateral and informal references noted by a few landowners in their voluntary no objection certificates during the initial phase of the project. These references were not part of any contractual agreement with Ambuja Cements, nor were they recognised by regulatory authorities as a valid basis for granting Environmental Clearance (EC).' EC and R&R The EC was issued after the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change accepted the conditions of the R&R plan, which includes a one-time payment per project-affected family, skills training, and other specifics. The R&R plan and the commitments made by Ambuja Cements are mentioned in the EIA report, based on which the public hearing took place. The report is in the public domain. One specific condition was: 'Action taken report of R&R plan shall be submitted annually. As discussed during the meeting, the benefit to project-affected persons as a percentage of the sale price shall be submitted to the Ministry.' In its statement, Ambuja Cements also said: 'The entire land acquisition was completed within six months—a clear indication of mutual interest, trust, and the fulfilment of expectations on both sides. Farmers received compensation rates significantly above prevailing government guideline values.' Strangely, as per its annual report, ACC paid Rs.298.61 crore to acquire the Rucha Group companies that had already bought the land parcels. In other words, it paid almost Rs.100 crore more than it would have had it acquired the land directly from the farmers. (The budget as per the EC was Rs.201 crore.) The Ambuja Cements statement also noted: 'We continue to receive fresh requests from neighbouring landowners who wish to sell their land to Ambuja Cements—a strong testament to our fairness, transparent dealings, and the trust we have built on the ground.' Chandrapur's farmers are unhappy. Ambuja Cements did not buy the land directly from them despite its assurances in the public hearing, and their demand for one job per 7/12 extract, and the R&R guarantees specified in the EC, have not been met so far. Naresh Satpute said: 'We are being cheated. But what can we do?' Anand Mangnale is an independent journalist.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Green Clearances Stuck As Authorities Remain Defunct
New Delhi: The dissolution of the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) has led to delays in issuing environmental clearances, a builder informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on July 31. In an affidavit submitted to NGT, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) stated that environmental clearances cannot currently be issued by the state as the two authorities remain defunct. In the absence of the state bodies, the Union environment ministry is granting clearances. NGT is considering a plea by a builder who approached the tribunal in May after applying for environmental clearance (EC) in Feb last year. The plea highlighted that the tenure of SEIAA and SEAC ended in Sept 2024 before the EC process could be completed. The builder was seeking permission for a group housing project in Kirti Nagar. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi In its reply dated July 31, the DPCC stated, "The tenure of the two bodies came to an end on Sep 5, 2024. No further notification has been issued till date by the Union govt. After Sept 5, the matters relating to consideration of applications for EC, which ordinarily would fall within the jurisdiction of these authorities in Delhi, are being dealt by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A Teaspoon Before Bed Burns Body Fat - Fit Into Your Clothes Again! Health & Family Click Here Undo Before their terms ended, DPCC provided financial and logistic support to the two bodies. Formed in 2021 through a notification by the Union environment ministry, SEIAA and SEAC were responsible for reviewing all construction projects requiring an EC under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification of 2006. These projects included large apartment complexes, hotels, commercial developments and infrastructure works exceeding a certain built-up area. Former members of the dissolved bodies mentioned that while MoEFCC or Delhi government can initiate the reconstitution process, there has been no progress since their terms ended. "Often, there is a lot of back and forth before EC is granted. With the Centre overseeing the process, the process may take longer," said a former member, requesting anonymity. State Level Expert Appraisal Committee, comprising three members, was headed by a former Public Works Department chief, Delhi's former environment special secretary and a functionary appointed by the previous Aam Aadmi Party govt. SEIAA had 11 members and was chaired by a former Delhi Development Authority commissioner.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
From the Urdu Press: ‘India must not blink before Trump', ‘Parliament should debate Bihar SIR'
Amid the standoff between the government and the Opposition over the Election Commission (EC)'s special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, the proceedings of Parliament during the current Monsoon Session have been a washout so far, barring a special discussion on Operation Sindoor in both the Houses. On the geopolitical front, US President Donald Trump has threatened a further escalation of tariffs on Indian goods, prompting a pushback from New Delhi. While continuing with saturation coverage of the SIR row and the parliamentary deadlock over the week, the Urdu dailies also kept their focus on the tension between India and US over the Trump tariff regime. SIASAT Commenting on President Trump's announcement slapping India with a 25% tariff on goods from August 7 besides an unspecified 'penalty' for its defence and energy imports from Russia, the Hyderabad-based Siasat, in its August 1 leader, says that while the Trump administration had been making various moves against the interest of New Delhi for some time, it has now openly adopted an 'anti-India stance'. 'Trump's bid to impose 25% tariffs on India has come amid the ongoing negotiations between the two countries for a trade deal. This is unfortunate as it may have adverse implications for Indian economy,' the editorial says. 'It could not only hurt Indian exports but also have a negative impact on jobs in the country.' The daily points out that India has forged strategic ties with America over the last two decades. 'New Delhi has been on the same page with Washington on a raft of geopolitical issues. This has been reflected even in India's growing proximity to Israel. However, Washington seems to be now unilaterally taking various measures undermining the friendship between the two countries,' it says. 'This has happened despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's close relationship with President Trump.' The editorial notes that just after announcing 25% tariff on Indian goods, Trump declared that the US and Pakistan have concluded a deal to develop the latter's oil reserves. 'All this is meant to target India. Even during Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attack, the US had tried to hyphenate India and Pakistan, which was unfair to India,' it says, adding that New Delhi must review its foreign policy. 'While having good relations with various countries, it must be ensured that our national interests are not compromised. The US may be a global power but if continues to warm up to our enemy country, then we should also not shy away from standing up to it. India must send a clear message to the US that we will not come under its pressure on our national interest.' URDU TIMES Referring to the Congress and other Opposition parties' questioning of the EC's 'neutrality', the Mumbai-based Urdu Times, in its August 4 editorial, points out that they have been demanding a debate in the Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha on the Bihar SIR issue, but the government has rejected it, leading to a parliamentary logjam. 'While the EC has always been an autonomous constitutional body, it was T N Seshan who as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in the 1990s undertook massive reforms and enforced the model code of conduct to turn the poll body into a formidable institution. The EC then started commanding respect even from the country's top political stalwarts, who would abide by its directives in their campaigns,' the editorial says. 'However, in recent years, the EC's image has taken a beating amid allegations that it has leaned towards the government,' it says, adding that the mechanism for the appointment of the Election Commissioners has also undergone a change. The daily says that despite its status as an independent body, the EC's impartiality has now come under questioning from various quarters, including the Opposition parties. 'This has been seen in various cases, ranging from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to the Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra, to the SIR exercise. The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has highlighted them,' it states. The EC has come under cloud over the ongoing SIR in Bihar where 65 lakh existing voters have been deleted from its draft rolls, with the exercise going to be implemented next in states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which are slated for polls early next year, the edit says. 'With the SIR controversy snowballing amid worry among a large section of electors, the Opposition has been pressing for a discussion on this public issue in Parliament, which the government should accept in light of its gravity as per democratic norms.' URDU TIMES Flagging a Mumbai court's verdict in the 2008 Malegaon blasts, in which six people were killed and 100 others injured, Urdu Times, in its August 1 editorial, points out that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court acquitted all the seven accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit. The court observed that there was 'strong suspicion' about their role but that cannot be a substitute for 'legal proof'. The editorial notes that the Malegaon case ruling came days after the Bombay High Court delivered its judgment in the July 11, 2006 Mumbai train blasts, quashing the 2015 verdict of a special court which had awarded death sentence to five accused and life imprisonment to seven others. After the acquittal of the 12 accused who had been languishing in prison for 19 years, the edit says, a key question has arisen as to 'who were the real perpetrators of Mumbai 7/11 case', which killed 189 commuters and wounded 824 others. 'The BJP-led Mahayuti government then promptly moved the Supreme Court to challenge the high court's verdict.' The editorial states that in the Malegaon blast case too, the victims have not got justice and are planning to challenge it in the higher courts. However, the Maharashtra government has shown 'double standards' in its stances over the two cases, it says. 'In the Malegaon case, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the court verdict has proved that terror has never been saffron. His deputy Eknath Shinde echoed similar views. However, they have not said anything about the acquittal in the Mumbai 7/11 case. Instead, their government rushed to the apex court to challenge it,' the daily says. 'There could not be different standards for ensuring justice. The victims in all cases are equally entitled to it. And their perpetrators must be brought to justice too. The victims in both the Mumbai 7/11 and Malegaon blast cases have been waiting for it for nearly two decades – they have been failed by shoddy investigations and poor prosecution by various agencies.'
