New Delhi: India has taken a decisive step towards securing its increasingly digital cities with the successful conclusion of the National Conference on Making Cities Cyber Secure, held today at Vigyan Bhawan. Jointly organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the conference convened over 300 key stakeholders to forge a collective roadmap for enhancing urban cybersecurity resilience.
The event saw widespread participation from Central Ministries, National Cybersecurity Agencies (including CERT-In, NCIIPC, I4C, and STQC), State Governments, and Urban Local Bodies. Dignitaries such as Shri Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary, MoHUA; Shri Govind Mohan, Union Home Secretary; and Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, CEO, UIDAI, delivered addresses emphasizing the critical need for urban cyber preparedness.
Key Initiatives and Vulnerabilities Addressed:
MoHUA unveiled crucial initiatives aimed at bolstering urban digital defenses, including:
- City-level cybersecurity frameworks: Establishing standardized guidelines for urban digital security.
- Mandatory appointment of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs): Ensuring dedicated leadership for cybersecurity in urban governance.
- Completion of cybersecurity audits: Assessing and identifying vulnerabilities in existing systems.
Officials underscored the growing susceptibility of technologies embedded in critical city functions like traffic management, utilities, and public services to cyber threats. They stressed the imperative for structured risk management and robust inter-agency collaboration to counter these evolving challenges.
Repositioning Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs):
A significant focus of the discussions was the strategic repositioning of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), established under the Smart Cities Mission, as dynamic, innovation-driven entities. Drawing from Advisory No. 27 (June 2025), the conference explored the expanded mandate of SPVs to include roles in consultancy, investment facilitation, technology integration, and policy research, aligning them with broader national urban development priorities. This expanded role will enable SPVs to continue supporting urban local bodies in managing cyber hygiene, analytics, and data systems.
Consensus on Future-Proofing Urban Transformation:
The Intelligence Bureau highlighted emerging cyber risks in the context of India’s rapid adoption of tech-enabled governance. The conference concluded with a strong consensus on the necessity of embedding cybersecurity into all phases of digital urban transformation. Participants agreed that empowering SPVs to champion these cybersecurity efforts is vital for achieving secure and resilient smart cities.
The collaborative spirit and comprehensive discussions at the National Conference on Making Cities Cyber Secure have laid a robust foundation for India’s ongoing journey towards building cyber-secure and resilient urban centers.