India faces unprecedented cyber threat pressure with 265.52 million detections across 8 million endpoints in 2025, averaging 505 every minute, as per Seqrite’s India Cyber Threat Report 2026. Trojans and file infectors dominated 70% of attacks, while incidents escalated from 10.29 lakh in 2022 to 22.68 lakh in 2024 per NCRP data, with ₹36.45 lakh in cyber frauds by February 2025. AI lowers attack barriers, enabling generative phishing, deepfakes, voice clones, and automated reconnaissance by APT groups like Lazarus, Sidewinder, and APT-36 targeting defense and government networks.
Operation Sindoor exemplified hybrid warfare blending APT36, SideCopy, and hacktivists infiltrating critical sectors, alongside XELERA ransomware using fake job notifications for Python payloads and Discord exfiltration. Cloud misconfigurations expose storage and supply chains to ransomware like RansomHub, while IoT vulnerabilities in smart cities enable DDoS and OT disruptions lacking authentication and encryption. Enterprises endure 2,011 weekly attacks, ranking among global highs, with vibe coding accelerating hyperscale operations.
2026 marks a turning point as cybersecurity integrates into core strategies, prioritizing sovereign infrastructure like Aadhaar and UPI against nation-state aggression. CERT-In’s Digital India session outlines resolutions: multi-factor authentication, regular updates, phishing vigilance, and backups for individuals and businesses. Cyber Revolution Summit and national hygiene programs target citizens and SMEs with mandatory standards for telecom, power, health, and BFSI.
DPDPA enforces 72-hour breach notifications and fiduciary audits, complemented by AI red teaming, zero-trust architectures, and quantum-safe cryptography roadmaps. Domestic procurement and joint IPR foster indigenous tools via Cyber Swachhta Kendra, which neutralized 1.2 million botnets last year. I4C’s 1930 helpline handled 1.5 million complaints, enhancing real-time crime tracking.
AI transforms defenses with autonomous SOCs predicting threats, API security, and behavior-based ransomware blocks amid RaaS commoditization. Recommendations urge fast-track cyber courts, time-bound convictions, and public-private collaborations expanding awareness and skills. India strengthens via I4C, NCIIPC, and institutional capacity against evolving actors.
PM Modi’s Viksit Bharat leverages 1,000+ defense startups for AI surveillance under Digital India, fortifying DPI resilience. As threats sophisticate, proactive intelligence-backed strategies ensure India’s digital destiny remains secure.
