Addressing the national conference on ‘Tackling Cyber-Enabled Frauds and Dismantling the Ecosystem’, organised by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Amit Shah outlined a multi-pronged approach being adopted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to combat cybercrime.
He said cyber threats have evolved beyond conventional financial fraud and now pose serious risks to national digital security infrastructure. In response, the government is developing a framework centred around real-time reporting, institutional coordination, forensic strengthening, and preventive awareness.
“Our goal is to bring together all stakeholders to create a secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem,” Shah stated.
The Home Minister detailed several foundational pillars underpinning the government’s anti-cybercrime roadmap:
1. Real-time reporting of cyber incidents
2. Expansion of forensic laboratory networks
3. Capacity building of enforcement agencies
4. Research and development in cyber technologies
5. Promotion of cyber awareness and hygiene
6. Integrated inter-agency coordination
Shah emphasised that agencies such as the CBI, National Investigation Agency (NIA), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), state police forces and other investigative bodies are being aligned under a coordinated national framework to ensure faster response and stronger deterrence.
Highlighting India’s rapid digital expansion, Shah noted that the surge in UPI-based payments and digital transactions has made cybersecurity a critical national priority.
While acknowledging that the number of cyber fraud cases has increased alongside digital adoption, he said this growth also reflects improved reporting mechanisms and greater public awareness.
“Cybercriminal networks are becoming increasingly organised and technologically advanced, often staying ahead of law enforcement,” Shah cautioned, underlining the need for continuous technological upgrades and intelligence-driven policing.
Shah credited the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) for spearheading enforcement efforts and institutional collaboration.
He referred specifically to I-Force, a digital cooperation platform established to enable real-time information sharing among enforcement agencies. According to Shah, the platform has already yielded positive results and will now be expanded with deeper inter-agency integration.
The integration aims to break down silos between central agencies, financial institutions, and state-level law enforcement to ensure quicker freezing of fraudulent transactions and tracing of digital footprints.
Providing a statistical overview of enforcement efforts, Shah said agencies under the I4C framework have saved or frozen over Rs 8,000 crore out of nearly Rs 20,000 crore lost to cyber fraud cases until November 30, 2025.
During the same period:
- Around 82 lakh cybercrime complaints were received.
- 1.84 lakh FIRs were registered across the country.
These figures underscore both the scale of the cybercrime challenge and the expanding enforcement response.
Recognising the vulnerability of financial institutions, Shah said 62 banks and financial institutions have already been onboarded onto the secure cyber framework developed by the government.
The next major objective is to integrate all cooperative banks into the system by December 31, thereby plugging potential weak links within the financial ecosystem.
The inclusion of cooperative banks is expected to enhance fraud detection, accelerate fund freezing mechanisms, and create uniform cybersecurity protocols across the banking network.
Beyond enforcement, Shah stressed the importance of public participation in maintaining cyber hygiene. He called for greater awareness campaigns to educate citizens about phishing scams, fraudulent links, impersonation calls, and digital payment frauds.
According to the Home Minister, cybersecurity cannot rely solely on institutional action; it requires behavioural vigilance among users navigating India’s expanding digital space.
Concluding his address, Shah urged participating agencies to elevate the fight against cybercrime to the next level. He emphasised that the evolving nature of digital threats demands constant innovation, rapid coordination, and proactive surveillance mechanisms.
As India continues its push towards a digitally empowered economy, the government’s focus on real-time reporting and coordinated enforcement signals a shift from reactive investigation to preventive and technology-driven intervention.
