New Delhi: The government yesterday unveiled the National Cyber Security Policy 2013 that aims at building a secure and resilient cyberspace for citizens, businesses and the government.
Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal explained the necessity of the policy and said there were always chances of cyber attacks from state and non-state actors, corporates and terrorists.
He said critical infrastructure like the air defence system, power infrastructure, nuclear plants, telecommunications system needed to be well insulated, otherwise it may lead to economic instability.
The distinctive feature of this policy is to create a mechanism to obtain information regarding information and communications technology infrastructure threats and to respond to it and solve it. It aims at doing crisis management through effective, preventive and proactive recovery actions.
The policy comes amid reports of snooping by the US globally and an ever-increasing threats to the country from cyber attacks. India witnessed 13,000 cyber attacks in 2011. The policy aims at setting up a nodal agency to coordinate all matters related to cyber security in the country with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. The policy aims at creating a secure cyber eco-system; strengthening the regulatory framework; creating mechanisms for early warning, vulnerability management and response to security threats.
It also seeks to promote research and development in cyber security and reduce supply chain risks among other objectives.
India sought to play down reports of the US cyber snooping at diplomatic missions, including at the Indian embassy in Washington, and said it was merely a “computer study of patterns” and also cast doubts on the veracity of the revelations.
“I don’t think we should be raising it to such a high level... that it becomes a matter of serious question. It is only a computer study of patterns - meaning destination. It is not snooping,” External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said in Brunei.
He said the issue was discussed during the India visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry. “Kerry and (US President Barack) Obama have clarified, there is some information that they get out of scrutiny and they use it for terrorism purposes,” he said. He said India and the US have a cyber security dialogue during which such issues are discussed. “As far as we are concerned, there are no issues at stake,” he added.
India also said it has declined the asylum request of fugitive former CIA agent Edward Snowden. “I can confirm that earlier today our embassy in Moscow did receive a communication dated June 30 from Edward Snowden. That communication did contain a request for asylum,” said external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin here. “We have carefully examined the request. Following that examination we have concluded that we see no reason to accede to the request,” he said. IANS
