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Summary

Security July+August 2023 Class

CYBERSECURITY: (01:11:00 PM)

 Recently, the Standing Committee on Finance released a report about cyber security and the
rising incidence of cyber/white-collar crimes.

 Need for India to Strengthening Cyber Security:

 a. Cyber Warfare.

 b. Cyber Terrorism.

 c. Cyber Crimes.

 India's Vulnerabilities to Cyber Threats:

 a. Recent attacks on critical cyber infrastructure.

 For example, Attack on the AIIMS database, JLN Port, Mumbai Power grid, etc.

 b. Increased Instances of cybercrime:

 For example, the NCRB cited an increase of 30% in the last two years.

 c. According to a report by Symantec Corp. India is among the top 5 countries in cybercrime
attacks.

 d. India has the largest citizen identity data in the form of the Adhaar.

 e. Increased penetration of the internet from 4% in 2007 to 45% in 2021.

 f. E-governance programs like - NeGP, Digital India, Smart City, etc.

 Existing Framework for Cyber Security:

 Information Technology Act 2000

 Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERTIn).

 National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC)

 Cyber Swachhta Kendra, etc.

 Challenges:

 a. The IT Law is outdated. For example, it does not define ransomware.

 b. Archaic Laws to deal with cyber crimes in procedural aspects.

 c. Infrastructural Challenges:

 India Imports about 70% of its telecom components.

 For example, Huwai, Xiaomi, etc.

 Lack of forensic labs.

  d. Shoratge of Storage Servers.

 e. Institutional Challenges:

 Lack of coordination among the agencies.

 Lack of capabilities in the State Police.

 f. Lack of adequately trained Human Resources.

 Lack of coordination between the industry and academia.

 g. Lack of interest by the private sector in investing in cybersecurity measures.

 Key recommendations of the committee:

 1. Empower a centralized Cyber Protection Authority (CPA) for cyber security that can work
with all digital
ecosystem participants.

 2. Capacity building for Creating a robust innovation ecosystem to not only strengthen India’s
cybersecurity capabilities but also deliver cutting-edge cyber solutions to the world.

 3. Strengthening private partnerships: The PPP model should be explored for security in the
regions and industry sectors.

 4. Dedicated officer: All government organizations and private enterprises can have a
designated Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) who would be responsible for cyber
security.

 5. Awareness: The government can establish an informative environment in the country

against possible cyber threats including cyberterrorism.

FUNCTIONING AND RESTRUCTURING OF THE DRDO: (01:47:00 PM)

 The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has constituted a nine-member committee headed by Prof. K
Vijaya Raghavan to review the functioning of DRDO and suggest restructuring and redefining
its role.

 The need to reform stems from the following factors:

 a. Failure to complete mission mode projects on time.

 b. To streamline the modernization of administrative, personnel, and financial systems to

address the trilemma (high quality, low cost, and quick delivery) of defense indigenization.

 Reasons for inefficient delivery by DRDO:

 a. Lack of harmonization on projects where multiple agencies get involved.

 b. Inadequate monitoring by different committees and frequent changes of requirements.

 c. Working on redundant: R&D work on obsolete technologies.

 d. Bureaucratisation of DRDO.

 e. Monopoly and lack of competition.

  Suggestions:

 Creating an Architecturally New Defence Techno-Industrial Consortium (DTIC): For integrated

defense R&D and manufacturing concept, strategy, and structure.

 Establish a Defense R&D council comprising top military leaders and scientists as the apex
decision-making body with emphasis on capability development plans.

 Create a new tri-service division within the Department of Military Affairs to look after
defense research for the integration of capability development and defense R&D.

 Procedural measures: Any modification/ improvisation should be done at the prototype

stage. Modification at the production stage should be avoided.

CENTRAL ARMED POLICE FORCES (CAPF): (01:58:00 PM)

 The Ministry of Home Affairs had mentioned that around 1532 Central Armed Police Forces
(CAPF) personnel had died by suicide in the last 13 years.

 There are 7 CAPF forces under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

 Various Forces include:

 Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

 Border Security Force (BSF)

 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)

 Assam Rifles (AR)

 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

 National Security Guard (NSG)

 Issues of CAPFs:

 1. HR Related Issues:

 a. Shortage of about 30% personnel.

 b. High rates of resignation- between 2010-2012 about 43000 personnel resigned.

 c. CAPFs are understaffed and overburdened- often refused holidays/vacations.

 Highly stressful working conditions.

 d. In the last 3 years 436 CAPF personnel committed suicides.

 e. Lack of avenues for promotion.

 f. Appointments of IPS officers as their chief.

 2. Operational Issues:

 a. Lack of capabilities of the state police which made them dependent on CAPFs.

 b. Not able to get enough time for training and capability enhancement.
  c. lack of coordination between state police forces and CAPF.

 d. Diversion of CAPF from their core duties like election duties.

 3. Infrastructural Challenges:

 a. CAPFs often lack basic facilities for housing and lodging.

 b. Shotage of arms and equipment, especially sophisticated technologies like radars, sensors,
etc.

 c. Often complaints related to ration and other basic amenities in the barracks.

 Steps to enhance the performance of CAPFs:

 a. Special Forces in States: The states must develop their own forces to efficiently manage
law and order and augment their existing police forces by providing adequate training and
equipment.

 b. Enhancing the training methods: The training methods are to be improved in line with the
latest requirements, and
the training curriculum be updated.

 c. Increase the representation of women: The percentage of women in the CAPF needs to be
increased, and a separate training curriculum be set for them.

 d. Inclusion of Agniveers: The existing limit of 10% reservation for inclusion of Agniveers in
the CAPFs, is to be followed
along all the CAPFs, and separate drives need to be enhanced to fill the vacancies.

 e. Grievance redressal: An efficient grievance redressal mechanism is implied, which looks

into the issues of delayed promotions, clashes within the personnel, and harassment at the
workplace.

 f. De-stressing the force: Scientific methods to reduce the stress of the personnel are to be
introduced along with special intermittent training to improve their morale and well-being.

THE SYLLABUS FOR JULY AND AUGUST'S CURRENT AFFAIRS OF INTERNAL SECURITY IS COMPLETED.