Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part F (2024)

This study aims to critically examine the cybersecurity threat landscape in India and evaluate the effectiveness of existing policy responses in safeguarding national security, critical infrastructure, and public digital services. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates techniques including expert interviews, policy analysis, and case studies with quantitative data gathered through structured surveys across multiple sectors. Secondary data were collected from official government publications, cybersecurity reports, and academic journals to establish a foundational understanding of current strategies. NVivo software was employed for thematic analysis of qualitative inputs, while descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations were used to interpret quantitative data. Triangulation of findings ensured reliability and minimized bias across data sources. The results highlight a sharp increase in cyber threats in 2023, including 92,000 phishing attacks (+35%), 18,500 ransomware cases (+40%), and 2,600 breaches of government databases, with estimated financial losses exceeding ₹3,000 crores. Critical sectors such as defense, finance, and energy reported high strategic impact scores, emphasizing the vulnerability of India's digital infrastructure. The research also found that rural areas and SMEs are disproportionately under protected due to limited resources and infrastructure. Based on the analysis, the study recommends comprehensive legal reform (₹350 Cr), large-scale training programs (₹500 Cr), nationwide awareness campaigns (₹200 Cr), infrastructure upgrades (₹1,200 Cr), and enhanced global cooperation (₹150 Cr), with an expected threat reduction of up to 40%. These findings underscore the urgency for a centralized cybersecurity authority and coordinated public-private efforts to create a proactive, resilient, and adaptive cybersecurity ecosystem in India.