Under direction of Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister the Central Electricity Authority, Ministry of Power has prepared the guideline for the Cyber Security in Power sector, and it has been released. The guideline lays down required actions for cyber security preparedness across various utilities in power sector to raise the level of cyber security preparedness for power sector. It lays down a cyber assurance framework, the strengthens the regulatory framework, puts in place mechanisms for security threat early warning, vulnerability management and response to security threats, securing remote operations and services, protection and resilience of critical information infrastructure, reducing cyber supply chain risks, encouraging use of open standards, promotion of research and development in cyber security, human resource development in the domain of Cyber Security, Developing effective public private partnerships and information sharing and cooperation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the 16th East Asia Summit (EAS), called for a resilient and stable global supply chain and raised the idea of developing global standards on cyber security. The PM's comments on developing global standards on cyber security are significant amid allegations of hacking by China.

Concerned about the growing threat posed by cyber-attacks and national security threats, the government is in the process of forming a unified national-level cyber security task force with a special focus on risks posed by the telecom sector. The move comes at a time when the government is finalizing a “trusted source” list for telecom gear procurement as the country moves towards 5G and other cutting-edge telecom and immersive technologies, but insignificant purchases from China and other countries are detrimental to India’s security interests.

India is in the final stages to clear a National Cybersecurity Strategy in the wake of growing cyber-attacks and threats from nation-state actors and threats from nation-state actors against the country, national cyber security coordinator Lt. Gen. (retd) Rajesh Pant has stressed.

Ericsson, Nokia, Tejas Networks, and Cisco have become the first telecom gear makers to get the “Trusted Source” status from the National Cyber Security Coordinator. European, Indian Companies Get NCSC Nod, Chinese Companies Wait. Earlier this year, the NCSC launched a portal for gear makers and telcos to apply for “Trusted Sources” status. The Chinese telecom suppliers, Huawei and ZTE, still wait for their approval; they have failed to complete the documentation process. France-based IIoT solutions provider Proscend, identity-related security service provider IDEMIA, PC Solutions and Dori Software have also received approval.