- Training cyber commandos is step towards making police self-reliant to tackle cyber threats: Gujarat DGP
- The inaugural batch comprises 30 officers selected from across the nation, representing states like Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Acting on the idea of Prime Minister NarendraModi, the Cyber Commando initiative is recently introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on September 10, 2024, during the Foundation Day celebrations of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) in New Delhi
- The Cyber Commando Training Program is part of a broader government initiative to train 5,000 cyber commandos over the next five years: Amit Shah
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, OCT 1
The Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) launched the prestigious Cyber Commando Training Program in collaboration with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs, on Tuesday, marking a major milestone in enhancing India’s cybersecurity infrastructure. This six-month program, organized under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs, aims to empower 30 police officers from various states with advanced cyber defense skills. The officers will be trained to address the rapidly evolving cyber threats faced by the forces of India.
Acting on the idea of Prime Minister NarendraModi,, the Cyber Commando initiative was recently introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on September 10, 2024, during the Foundation Day celebrations of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) in New Delhi..
Training and preparing cyber commandos is a step towards making Central and state police forces self-reliant to take on cyber threats, Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) Vikas Sahay said here on Tuesday.
Sahay said in the last few decades, cyber security has become a global challenge, and the police’s readiness to face this has become very important, as it has both national and international ramifications.
The training course for cyber commandos is being launched at various institutes in the country to equip participants with comprehensive knowledge and advanced skills in aspects of cyber security.
“We (police force), as custodians of the legal framework of this country and of the world at large, need to prepare ourselves for this emerging challenge of cyber threat,” Sahay said.
The police forces of states and the Centre have huge a responsibility to understand this challenge, he said.
“The police force needs to be ‘atma nirbhar’ in preparing itself to take on this challenge, and therefore, there is a need to create cyber commandos,” he said.
Mayank Ghildiyal (Deputy Director, I4C), Guest of Honour, said,”Cyber Commando Training Program is part of a national mission to strengthen India’s defenses against cyber threats. The program will ensure that police officers are equipped with cutting-edge skills to respond to sophisticated cyberattacks.”
Speaking on the occasion, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), Rajesh Kumar, said the training for the first batch of cyber commandos began at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad on September 2.
I4C, set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs, has designed the course.
“The Prime Minister himself said on January 4, 2023, that we need to have a cyber commando force within the police forces…The idea is to have 5,000 cyber commandos in the next four to five years,” Kumar said.
He said to achieve the target, many batches will be trained, both within the RRU and other institutes.
“Many other IITs and IIITs are coming on board to host the programme,” Kumar said.
“For long, police forces at the Centre and in states have depended on hired resources to address cybersecurity issues. That was why the prime minister said the arrangement should be made from within,” he said.
I4C was set up to create the framework and ecosystem for the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of cybercrime in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.
RRU Vice Chancellor Bimal Patel said the university is privileged to be among the premier institutions in the country to host the programme.
“On this crucial initiative, cyber commandos training in collaboration with I4C of the MHA, it is imperative that we equip ourselves with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of the digital age,” he said.
The six-month residential program includes comprehensive training modules designed by cybersecurity experts. Officers will receive practical instruction in ethical hacking, digital forensics, threat intelligence, incident response strategies, and other advanced cybersecurity measures.
The curriculum covers critical topics such as IT fundamentals, cloud computing, cyber laws, IoT security, malware analysis, and cryptocurrency threats. Participants will gain hands-on experience in mitigating cyber risks and responding to real-world cyber incidents.
The inaugural batch comprises 30 officers selected from across the nation, representing states like Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This first-of-its-kind program aims to prepare an elite force capable of tackling the increasing cybercrime challenges affecting India.
Vision for the future
The Cyber Commando Training Program is part of a broader government initiative to train 5,000 cyber commandos over the next five years. This initiative will involve prestigious institutions like IITs, IIITs, and NFSU, ensuring that the officers are continuously trained and updated on the latest cyber trends. The trained officers will return to their respective police forces and serve as a critical resource for responding to cyber incidents of national importance.
