Latest news with #UPSIFS
Hans India
33 minutes ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Adityanath announces 6 new forensic labs
Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that before 2017, Uttar Pradesh had only four 'poorly-equipped' forensic labs, while currently, 12 modern labs have been established across the state and six more are under construction. Encouraging police personnel, he remarked, 'The UP Police must continue to upgrade itself with modern technologies to build a safe and technologically empowered society for the future.' Adityanath made these statements while inaugurating the three-day international summit on the Dimensions of Cyber War, Multilateral Legal Framework, Forensics, and Strategic Countermeasures, organised on the third foundation day of the Uttar Pradesh State Institute of Forensic Sciences (UPSIFS) in Lucknow on Monday. He further informed that mobile forensic units have been deployed in all 75 districts, and that cyber police stations have been set up across the state. Additionally, cyber help desks have also been opened in 1,587 police stations, where cases are being resolved with the support of master trainers. The chief minister stated that since 2017, forensic evidence has been made mandatory in solving every crime. 'From July 2024, forensic evidence has become compulsory in all cases carrying a punishment of over seven years,' he said, adding that the UP Police has initiated steps to establish a cyber headquarters to counter cybercrime effectively. He further claimed that, unlike the situation before 2017 when it often took years to nab criminals, the Uttar Pradesh Police now apprehends wrongdoers within 24 to 48 hours, aided by technology and forensic science. Earlier, the chief minister inaugurated the Padma Shri Dr. Lalji Singh Advanced DNA Diagnostic Centre, the AI, Drone, and Robotics Lab, and the Atal Library. He also distributed smart tablets to students and flagged off 75 mobile forensic vans.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Aadhaar not proof of citizenship, address or birthdate, sau UIDAI chief
1 2 Lucknow: On the second day of the three-day international summit at the UP state institute of forensic science (UPSIFS), Lucknow, experts from across India and abroad gathered to deliberate on issues of privacy, data protection, cyber security and forensic science. Around 40 specialists delivered lectures, sharing insights into emerging global challenges and opportunities in the digital era. Delivering a keynote lecture on 'Evolving dimensions of privacy, data protection and cyber security', CEO of UIDAI, Bhuvnesh Kumar underlined the revolutionary role of Aadhaar in identity management through biometric verification. Clarifying misconceptions, he stressed that "Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship, address, or date of birth. It is merely a tool for identity authentication and can even be issued to foreign nationals residing in India for more than 182 days. " He emphasised that Aadhaar numbers are randomly generated to ensure privacy, and no agency should accept Aadhaar without proper verification. Referring to the newly enacted Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, Kumar said the law introduced stringent measures against unauthorised data processing and empowered individuals to file complaints before the Data Protection Board. The Act, he added, would strengthen India's data security regime and align it with global privacy standards. Highlighting the growing menace of cybercrime, deputy inspector general (cyber), UP Police, Pawan Kumar said that cyber offences worldwide caused losses exceeding USD 11 trillion — three times India's total economy. India alone recorded more than six million cybercrime cases, reflecting the gravity of the threat. "Cybercrime is not merely a police problem. Combating it requires coordinated efforts across banking, education and technology sectors," he said, urging multi-sectoral collaboration to counter digital threats. Retired judge Talbant Singh explained the critical role of digital evidence in modern investigations, calling it indispensable in cases ranging from theft and robbery to cyber fraud. IPS officer Amit Kumar highlighted the paradox of widespread mobile use but low cyber literacy. He urged the inclusion of cyber education in school curricula. Amit Dubey, citing recent cryptocurrency scams, warned of criminals exploiting innovation and public trust. Atul Kumar Ojha called for stronger legal frameworks and specialised investigative teams to combat cybercrime effectively. Cyber expert Pawan Sharma emphasised digital audits as the cornerstone of risk assessment. Manish Rai urged the integration of legal, ethical and technical perspectives in cyber governance. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Digital evidence emerging as decisive tool in trials: Ex-judge
Lucknow: Digital evidence is emerging as a decisive tool in judicial cases, particularly when no eyewitnesses are available, said retired Justice Talwant Singh at a seminar on the Importance of Digital Evidence in Judicial Matters at the Uttar Pradesh State Institute of Forensic Sciences (UPSIFS) on Tuesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Citing the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case, he noted that internet transcripts were pivotal in convicting terrorist Ajmal Kasab. Singh said that under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's leadership, Uttar Pradesh is adopting a technology-driven approach to strengthen the judiciary. Frameworks are being developed to formally recognise digital evidence, while video-conferencing facilities in courts are being expanded to speed up proceedings and improve transparency. Defining digital evidence as "all data created in digital form and collected in one place," Singh highlighted its growing role in cases ranging from theft to cybercrime. He said the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) makes provisions to recognise digital evidence, including oral statements recorded via video calls, and pointed to Section 273 of the CrPC, which allows witness statements to be recorded through video conferencing. He added that authentic digital records, from CCTV footage to server logs, have become indispensable for fair trials and stronger convictions.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
90% of cybercrimes have now shifted to cryptocurrency platforms, say experts
Lucknow: Cryptocurrencies, which were once celebrated as a technological innovation, are now deeply embedded in illicit activities on the dark web and over 90% of cybercrimes have now shifted to platforms, making traditional policing ineffective. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The concern was discussed on the second day of the three-day seminar organised at the Uttar Pradesh Institute of Forensic Sciences (UPSIFS). Cyber experts, law enforcement officials, and technology specialists engaged in extensive deliberations on threats emerging from the dark web, the misuse of cryptocurrencies, and the role of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and quantum computing in curbing digital crime at the seminar, conducted by Col Nitish Bhatnagar. Panelist Amir raised concerns that the dark web is being exploited not just for selling hacked data, but also for heinous crimes such as human trafficking and drug trade. He stressed that India's new Digital Data Protection Law will play a critical role in limiting such crimes. Another expert, Vishnu Narayan Sharma, underlined the anonymity and decentralised nature of the dark web, making detection difficult, but added that cutting-edge technologies could help law enforcement trace offenders. DIG Cyber Cell Pawan Kumar said the Yogi Adityanath govt is equipping police personnel with high-tech training and resources to address this challenge. He also emphasised that global collaboration is vital, as cybercrime transcends national boundaries. Meanwhile, dark web crimes, drug trafficking, human trafficking, sale of stolen data, contract killings were identified as key threats at the seminar: Experts recommended data encryption, multi-factor authentication for crypto transactions, stronger legal oversight, and specialised software for tracking cryptocurrency flows. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Public awareness campaigns on digital safety and risks of dark web activities were also advised. Highlighting the future, experts said that AI would play a decisive role in detecting patterns of cybercrime, while quantum computing could bolster secure digital infrastructure. However, they agreed that no single technology or law can succeed without international cooperation.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Forensic experts stress strong security against digi fraud
Lucknow: With rising number of online/cyber/digital fraud cases, importance of cybersecurity, digital audits and cyber insurance had become crucial, said experts at a seminar organised by UP State Institute of Forensic Sciences (UPSIFS). The session highlighted Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's initiatives to strengthen the state's cybersecurity framework. UPSIFS additional director Rajeev Malhotra said Yogi govt adopted a tough stance against cybercrimes, while stressing need for continuous education, teamwork and ethical clarity and highlighted India's DPDP Act and global policies like GDPR as key to protecting data. Cybersecurity expert Pawan Sharma from US underlined that digital audits formed foundation for assessing organisational risks, while Cisco representatives said companies were shifting from annual audits to continuous, risk-based assessments. Zscaler experts emphasised internal upskilling and certifications such as CompTIA Security+ and CISSP. UPSIFS expert Manish Kumar Rai urged adopting global perspectives, citing ransomware risks and stressed that only continuous assessments could ensure strong digital security. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
