IMC 2023: India needs to build own cybersecurity capabilities, PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called for India to become self-reliant in cybersecurity across hardware and software, and said that having control over the value chain will ensure the security of the country’s digital infrastructure.

“For cybersecurity, self-reliance is very important in the entire manufacturing value chain – be it hardware, software or connectivity. When everything in the value chain is under our national domain, it will help us in keeping them secure,” PM Modi said at the seventh edition of the India Mobile Congress.

This is a particularly important statement by the Prime Minister as it comes after India tried to impose restrictions on the import of laptops and computers, and later went back on it. However, the rationale behind the move was to ensure security of India’s digital networks, since a majority of these imports happen from China.

Saying that the 21st century is the time for India’s thought leadership in the technology space, the PM also said that India should establish itself as a thought leader as a natural progression from being an adopter and implementer of technology.

“We have to remember that we have come so far… Outdated phones used to hang earlier, and no matter how many times you swiped the screen, it had no effect. That time’s government was in the same situation, it was always in the hang mode,” he said. “In 2014, people left behind such an outdated phone and gave us an opportunity to serve. The changes are quite clear,” he added.

Highlighting the increase in electronics manufacturing activity happening in India, the PM said that the government was “proud that the world is using Made in India phones”.

“We used to import phones, today we are an exporter. Earlier, our presence in manufacturing was next to nothing, but today we are the second biggest in electronics manufacturing. Before, there was no clear vision for electronics manufacturing. Today, we are exporting Rs 2 lakh crore worth electronics. Google has also recently announced that it will manufacture Pixel phones in India, Sansung’s Fold 5 and iPhone 15 are already being made here,” Modi said. Indian Express