Sumit Kumar, Nodal Officer, BECIL is the youngest National Security strategist working on building Atmanirbhar Bharat for national security and new-generation. In an exclusive conversation with CXO News and APAC News Network, he outlines various aspects of national security, cybercrime investigation, strategic planning, business operations strategy, and technology implementation from PSEs.
How do public sector enterprises contribute to national security by working in cyber and emerging technology?
Public sector enterprises (PSEs) play an important role in combating developing types of cybercrime and Cyber Terrorismby using emerging technology, which is becoming more complex and diverse, posing substantial challenges to India’s national security. These emerging cyber risks Like Social engineering, third-party exposure, cloud vulnerabilities, ransomware, and IoT. ransomware that targets key infrastructure, deepfake technology used in misinformation campaigns, and AI-powered phishing assaults that impersonate legitimate institutions to dupe individuals and organisations.
Recent national security challenges due to digital arrests include erosion of trust in law enforcement, financial loss, societal disruption, increased cybercrime, and weakening of digital infrastructure.PSEs can become a bridge by establishing advanced-level collaboration and frameworks with ministries and government departments where national security is involved, protecting ministry and government department information from falling into the wrong hands. We know that nowadays, information has become more powerful than ever. We saw what happened in 2024, when a series of coordinated attacks targeted Hezbollah members using booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies, resulting in casualties and highlighting the potential for unconventional and sophisticated attacks.
To solve these issues, PSEs can validate, authenticateand supply technologies to law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and state police for Intelligence and investigating complex cybercrimes ranging from digital identity theft to sophisticated financial fraud and even cyber espionage and cyberTerrorism. They also safeguard defence communications using quantum encryption and blockchain, guaranteeing sensitive information is protected by building make in india technologies with Startups. PSEs also prioritise capacity building by training LEAs, Police, defence personnel, academia and government deparments to handle new-age national security threats, resulting in a highly skilled workforce prepared to battle cybercrime, cyber espionage and cyberTerrorism.
PSEs can come together and build AI and machine learning base application to enable proactive threat detection, spotting anomalous patterns and behaviours that could suggest cybercriminal and cyber Terrorism activity, such as large-scale Social engineering, ransomware campaigns or covert information breaches. PSEs can  develop indigenous national security solutions with startups as per government organisation problems to reduce reliance on foreign technologies, which aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat goal. Because order or contract base approach of industry no more need in future india and Viksit Bharat in 2047. Their public-private collaboration promotes innovation by combining public sector expertise with private sector agility to successfully address sophisticated national security.
Ethical use of Technologies = Technologies + LAWs + Policies+Skills
PSEs play an important role in raising awareness by educating citizens on how to recognise and protect against emerging types of national security threat, hence contributing to a vigilant society. They collaborate with LEAs, Police, defence forces and academia to build a cohesive cyber defence, ensuring that India remains safe, resilient, and well-prepared for the changing terrain of digital threats as it works towards the objective of a Viksit Bharat in 2047.
In what ways do public sector enterprises provide critical cyber forensics Infrastructurefor law enforcement agencies to handle digital crime investigations?
Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs), as government entities, are well-positioned to safeguard sensitive government data with high confidentiality and security standards. By establishing a Cyber Forensic Centre of Excellence, PSEs can enable Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to conduct comprehensive examinations of digital data, supporting the identification, preservation, recovery, analysis, and presentation of essential evidence in court.
As India currently imports approximately 99% of its cyber forensic software, PSEs could become a central hub for digital forensic tools, providing government agencies and state police with a unified resource for forensic needs. This approach would alleviate the financial strain on government agencies and state police, enabling them to utilize critical forensic tools without the burden of buying each tool individually for their labs.
PSEs could offer consultation and support to Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) and government labs, assisting with the notification and certification of electronic evidence examiners under Section 79A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. This would standardize forensic practices across states, improve the quality of electronic evidence, and ensure compliance with legal standards.
The recent overhaul of India’s criminal justice system through the introduction of three new laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replacing the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) replacing the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) replacing the Indian Evidence Act—further strengthens this initiative. These laws, effective July 1, 2024, prioritize victims’ rights, enhance citizen security, and leverage technology to address emerging challenges. They introduce strict penalties for human trafficking, stringent punishments for crimes impacting national security, and impose death or life imprisonment for mob lynching offenses.
By establishing a centralized resource for cyber forensic tools and expertise, PSEs would not only help reduce the backlog of cases relying on digital evidence but also accelerate state-level forensic capabilities. This initiative aligns with the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat by fostering domestic innovation in cyber forensics, reducing dependency on foreign tools, and enabling timely justice across the nation.
In addition to equipment, PSEs provide specialised training programs to help law enforcement professionals improve their abilities and knowledge of cyber forensics. These training classes cover a wide range of topics, including incident response, digital evidence collecting, legal elements of cyber investigations, and the use of forensic technology. Hands-on training and simulations provide participants with practical training that equips them to properly respond to real-world cyber emergencies.
Furthermore, PSEs frequently work with international organisations and cyberexperts to ensure that training programs are consistent with worldwide best practices and developing trends in digital crime. This collaboration helps LEAs stay current on the latest cyber risks and forensic approaches. By establishing cooperation between PSEs and LEAs, public sector companies help to build a strong ecosystem for cyber crime investigation, hence improving law enforcement’s overall ability to tackle digital crime successfully.
How can public sector enterprises and startups collaborate to drive innovation and technological advancement in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047?
Public sector enterprises (PSEs) and Startups can work together in a smart way to spur innovation and technological progress, which will help the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047 a lot. By setting up Government Business Solutions Incubator (GBSI), PSEs can build ecosystems that support startups by giving them the problem statement, tools, guidance, and money they need to solve important problems facing the country.
For example, the Atal Innovation Mission has opened more than 10,000Atal Tinkering Labs to help young people be creative and figure out how to solve problems. This fits with the idea that using the creativity of young people who are already making things is important for the country’s growth. Also, PSEs can give priority to startup solutions in public Procurement, which makes up about 12% of India’s GDP. This will boost the growth of the startup ecosystem and improve public services, especially in high-demand areas like cyber, which is expected to grow at a 32% CAGR.
Additionally, working together on research and development projects can speed up progress in Emerging Technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), which is expected to add $957 billion to India’s economy by 2035. Because of this, people think that new ideas can help the economy grow and make society better. PSEs can meet the expected need for over 100 million trained workers by 2025 by working with startups to run skill development programs. This will ensure that the workforce is ready for the Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Giving startups access to technology and data that has been anonymised can help them make new apps that make public services run more smoothly. Joint public awareness campaigns can also encourage people to use new technologies, making sure that everyone can gain from them. By working together and focussing on what they do best, PSEs and startups can make India more sustainable, open, and technologically advanced, eventually achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
PSEs+ Indian Startups/ Industries =Atamanirbhar Bharat by 2030=Viksit Bharat by 2047
Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) and startups can come together not only to solve national-level problems but also to address global challenges, becoming a driving force and booster for Viksit Bharat by 2047.
What are the key focus areas for public sector enterprises next 12-18 months?
India’s public sector enterprises (PSEs) will focus on a few key areas over the next 12 to 18 months. They will use future growth opportunities to drive their projects and help the country’s objectivesViksit Bharat by 2047.
Digital Transformation: Public sector entities (PSEs) are expected to improve their digital skills a lot in order to run more efficiently and provide better services. National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) says that by 2025, the Indian market for digital change will be worth $500 billion. This includes putting money into cloud computing, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI), all of which can make things run more smoothly and help people make better decisions. Projects like the Digital India program will make it easier for people to use digital solutions and make government work better.
 Green and sustainable projects: India has promised to have net-zero emissions by 2070. To help reach this goal, private sector companies will work harder on green technologies, garbage management, and renewable energy projects. The green energy market is expected to grow from $10 billion in 2021 to over $20 billion by 2025. Solar and wind energy investments will help it do this. To reach the goal of 500 GW of renewable energy potential by 2030, PSEs will be very important. This is in line with the government’s plan to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix.
Skill Development and Capacity Building: As new technologies change the way jobs are done, PSEs will put a high priority on helping their employees improve their skills. In fields like AI, cyber, and data science, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship says that by 2025, they will need more than 100 million trained workers. To give workers the skills they’ll need for future challenges, it will be important to work with schools and new businesses on skill development programs.
Building up infrastructure: For PSEs, investing in building up infrastructure is still a top concern. The National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) wants to spend ₹111 trillion, or about $1.5 trillion, on infrastructure by 2024. This will help the economy grow and make it easier for people in different areas to connect with each other. Key projects include building more trains, roads, and infrastructure in cities, which will help create jobs and make public services better.
Development of cyber security and forensics verticals: As the move to digital accelerates, PSEs will make their cybersecurity measures stronger and set up dedicated vertical to protect data of important infrastructure of ministry and government departments and also help them in investigation. The Indian cybersecurity and Cyber Forensic market is projected to grow from $ 5.1 billion in 2020 to $12.5 billion by 2025 andMore than 5 crore cases are pending in various courts, including district courts, high courts and the Supreme Court. It will be important to put money into advanced cybersecurity and cyber forensic technologies, train staff, and set up centre of excellence for cyber security and cyber forensics.
As India currently imports approximately 99% of its cyber forensic software, PSEs could become a central hub for digital forensic tools, providing government agencies and state police with a unified resource for forensic needs.
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): PSEs will look into more PPPs to use the efficiency and creativity of the private sector. The Department of Economic Affairs says that PPPs have successfully brought in over 3 trillion naira in funding across many areas, such as healthcare and infrastructure. PSEs can improve service delivery, efficiency, and creativity by working with private companies.
Research and Development: To encourage new ideas in new technologies, research and development (R&D) will get more attention. Their goal is for R&D spending to reach 2.5% of GDP by 2025. PSEs will work with Indian companies and universities to create cutting-edge solutions in digital technologies, smart cities, and clean energy. This will help the economy grow and be more sustainable.
Services that focus on the customer: PSEs will put a lot of effort into making the customer experience better. Customer experience management is a business that will grow to $23 billion by 2024. This is because people want better services and more openness. PSEs will use technologies and platforms that are easy for people to use so they can better connect with locals and build trust and satisfaction.
By focussing on these key areas, businesses in the public sector hope to make sure their plans are in line with national goals, boost economic growth, and help the country grow over the next few years. PSEs can help make India’s future as a sustainable, technologically advanced, and open economy by taking part in these programs.
Note: The views expressed regarding the topic are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of their institutions, associates, or collaborators.
Rupa Singh & Rajneesh De, APAC News Network
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