Cybersecurity: The Most Pressing Concern in Budget FY25-26

With the new budget announced by our finance minister, huge emphasis has been given to cybersecurity. The decision comes due to the unprecedented growth of AI IoT, and blockchain technologies in the nation. Various experts from the industry are urging the government to integrate robust measures to safeguard India’s digital future. They express the need for increasing funds, public-private collaborations and focused skill development initiatives. ?

India's cybersecurity budget was quite modest before 2022 with mere allocation of Rs 30 crore to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. However, with the increasing threat landscape the government increased the investments to Rs 750 crore by FY 2025-2025. This showcases a steady commitment for strengthening the country’s digital defenses. ?

R&D Innovation ?

The Country Director of Securonix, India, focused on the need of increased funding for research and development in cybersecurity. ?

He said, ““India needs to innovate its cyber technologies to stay ahead of the competition. The government should allocate higher budgets for grants, tax benefits, and partnerships between academia and industry to drive indigenous R&D.”??

Bridging the Talent Gap?

One of the major recommendations from Kaura was to allocate funds for skill development programs nation wide. He suggested subsidies for certification programs, scholarships for specialized education, and incorporating cybersecurity in their technical curricular. ?

Pankit Desai, CEO & Founder of Sequretek supported this sentiment while putting stress on the importance of hands-on training for cybersecurity professionals. He said, “While educational institutions have made strides in offering cybersecurity courses, practical skills remain underdeveloped. More investment in infrastructure at educational institutions can enhance real-world readiness.”?

Secure AI & Citizen Awareness?

With the rise in technology the threats levels have also increased significantly. Chetan Jain, the founding Executive director and MD of Inspira Enterprise emphasized the need of incentivizing AI solutions. ?

He added, ““The government should introduce incentives to encourage homegrown cybersecurity firms to invest in R&D and implement secure AI technologies,” ?

He also pointed towards the growing nuisance of cyber bullying that majorly targets senior citizens and young adults. He advised that there should be budget allocated strictly towards citizen awareness programs and strengthening prevention mechanisms. ?

Enhancing Domestic Cybersecurity Ecosystems?

Pankit Desai flagged some policy-level challenges faced by local cybersecurity firms, particularly in the government procurement processes. He said “Despite policies, local cybersecurity ecosystems face significant hurdles. Procurement processes must be revised to foster a more inclusive environment for domestic firms to effectively bid for government contracts,”?

He pointed out to India’s vulnerability with deepfake and digital arrests. He stated “As the Prime Minister highlighted with ‘Digital Arrests,’ raising public and industry awareness about these threats is crucial. Strategic investments can reinforce India’s cybersecurity defenses and talent,”?

Conclusion?

Seeing that the government is actually investing now in cybersecurity explains that there is a change in their mentality towards this issue. It must have happened way before but hey, there’s no right time for the right decision. ?

This sets the ideal benchmark for private companies to invest more towards cybersecurity. Data is the new gold, and this is the perfect example of it. If we are not able to secure it, it will be mined by illicit practitioners who will use the data according to their wish. ?