Lok Sabha Question No. 1638 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-27
Subject: Prevention of Cyber Crimes
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Rajesh Verma, Sanjay Seth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1638

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 27.07.2022

## PREVENTION OF CYBER CRIMES

## 1638. SHRI RAJESH VERMA: SHRI SANJAY SETH:

Will  the  Minister  of  ELECTRONICS  AND  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY  be  pleased  to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  large  scale  incidents  of  withdrawal  of  money through message and other means by cyber criminals in Jharkhand;

- (b) if so, the details thereof including the action taken to check the above incidents;
- (c) the State-wise details of the victims of cyber crimes during the last two years;
- (d) whether the Government has formulated any plan to prevent/check cyber crime/attack and if so, the details thereof along with its outcome; and
- (e) the details of increase in cyber crimes in Uttar Pradesh during the last two years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a)  and (b): Yes sir. With the growth of the internet and proliferation of applications, products & services  on  it,  citizens  are  being  empowered  and  their  lives  transformed.  However,  with  the growth of the internet, cyber crimes are also on the increase. The Government is aware of cyber crimes incidents including phishing originating in some parts of India including Jharkhand.

'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.  States/UTs  are  primarily  responsible  for  the  prevention,  detection,  investigation  and prosecution of crimes including cyber crime through their Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). The  LEAs  take  legal  action  as  per  provisions  of  law  against  the  offenders.  The  Central Government  supplements  the  initiatives  of  the  State  Governments  through  advisories  and financial assistance under various schemes for their capacity building.

As per Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), to  strengthen  the  mechanism  to  deal  with  cyber crimes    in    a  comprehensive    and    coordinated    manner,  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has provided  financial  assistance  to  all  the  States  &  UTs  under  Cyber  Crime  Prevention  against Women & Children (CCPWC) scheme to support their efforts for setting up of cyber forensiccum-training laboratories, training, and hiring of junior cyber consultants. Cyber forensic-cumtraining laboratories have been commissioned in 28 States. The Central Government has taken steps  for  spreading  awareness  about  cyber  crimes,  issuance  of  alerts/  advisories,  capacity building/ training of law enforcement personnel/ prosecutors/ judicial officers, improving cyber forensic facilities etc.

The  Government  has  established  Indian  Cyber  Crime  Coordination  Centre  (I4C)  to  provide  a framework  and  eco-system  for  LEAs  to  deal  with  the  cyber  crimes  in  a  comprehensive  and coordinated manner. 'Joint Cyber Coordination Teams' have been constituted for seven regions at Mewat, Jamtara, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Vishakhapatnam and Guwahati under the I4C to address the issue of jurisdictional complexity, based upon cyber crime hotspots/ areas, by on-boarding all the States/UTs to provide a robust coordination framework to the LEAs.

The Government has launched the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in)  to  enable  public  to  report  incidents  pertaining  to  all  types  of  cyber crimes, with a special focus on cyber crimes against women and children. A toll-free number 1930 has been operationalized to get assistance in lodging online cyber complaints. The Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System module has also been launched for immediate reporting of financial frauds and to stop siphoning off fund by the fraudsters.

(c): State-wise details of the victims of cyber crimes during 2019-20 as provided by National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) is enclosed as Annexure -I.

(d):  Government is fully cognizant and aware of various cyber security threats; and has taken following measures to enhance the cyber security posture and prevent cyber-attacks:

- (i) Indian  Computer  Emergency  Response  Team  (CERT-In)  issues  alerts  and  advisories regarding  latest  cyber  threats/vulnerabilities  and  countermeasures  to  protect  computers and networks on regular basis. CERT-In has issued 70 advisories for organisations and users to create awareness on safe usage of digital technologies.
- (ii) CERT-In operates an automated cyber threat exchange platform to proactively collect, analyse  and  share  tailored  alerts  with  organisations  across  sectors  for  proactive  threat mitigation actions by them.
- (iii) Security tips have been published for users to secure their Desktops, mobile/smart phones and prevent phishing attacks.
- (iv) Government  has  issued  guidelines  for  Chief  Information  Security  Officers  (CISOs) regarding their key roles and responsibilities to secure applications / infrastructure and compliance.
- (v) All the government websites and applications are audited with respect to cyber security prior  to  their  hosting.  The  auditing  of  the  websites  and  applications  is  conducted  on  a regular basis after hosting also.
- (vi) CERT-In  has  empanelled  97  security  auditing  organisations  to  support  and  audit implementation of Information Security Best Practices.
- (vii) CERT-In has formulated a Cyber Crisis Management Plan for countering cyber attacks and  cyber  terrorism  for  implementation  by  all  Ministries/  Departments  of  Central Government, State Governments and their organizations and critical sectors.
- (viii) Cyber security mock drills are conducted regularly to enable assessment of cyber security posture  and  preparedness  of  organisations  in  Government  and  critical  sectors.  67  such drills  have  so  far  been  conducted  by  CERT-In  where  886  organizations  from  different States and sectors participated.
- (ix) CERT-In conducts regular training programmes for network / system administrators and Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) of Government and critical sector organisations  regarding  securing  the  IT  infrastructure  and  mitigating  cyber  attacks.  19 and 5 training programs were conducted covering 5169 and 449 participants during the year 2021 and 2022 (upto June) respectively.
- (x) CERT-In operates the Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre). The centre provides detection of malicious programs and free tools to remove the same alongwith cyber security tips and best practices for citizens and organisations.
- (xi) CERT-In  has  set  up  the  National  Cyber  Coordination  Centre  (NCCC)  to  generate necessary situational awareness of existing and potential cyber security threats. Phase-I of NCCC is operational.
- (xii) CERT-In  also  co-operates,  works  and  coordinates  incident  response  measures  with international  CERTs,  overseas  organisations  and  service  providers  as  well  as  Law Enforcement Agencies.
- (xiii) CERT-In provides the requisite leadership for the Computer Security Incident Response Team-Finance Sector (CSIRT-Fin) operations under its umbrella to respond to, contain and mitigate cyber security incidents reported from the financial sector.
- (xiv) Computer  Security  incident  Response  Team-Finance  (CSIRT-Fin),  CERT-In,  National Institute  of  Securities  Markets  (NISM)  and  Centre  for  Development  of  Advanced Computing (CDAC) are conducting a self-paced 60 hour certification program on 'Cyber Security Foundation Course' for professionals in financial sector.
- (xv) CERT-In regularly disseminates information and share security tips on cyber safety and security  through  its  official  social  media  handles  and  websites.  CERT-In  organised various  events  and  activities  for  citizens  during  Cyber  Security  Awareness  Month  in October 2021 and Safe Internet day on 8 February 2022 by posting security tips using posters and videos on social media platforms and websites. CERT-In in association with CDAC conducted online awareness campaign for citizens covering topics such as general online  safety,  social  media  risks  and  safety,  mobile  related  frauds  and  safety,  secure digital payment practices etc. through videos and quizzes on MyGov platform.
- (xvi) CERT-In,  Reserve  Bank  of  India  (RBI)  and  Digital  India  jointly  carry  out  a  cyber security  awareness  campaign  on  'beware  and  be  aware  of  financial  frauds'  through Digital India Platform.
- (xvii) Ministry  of  Electronics  &  Information  Technology  (MeitY)  conducts  programs  to generate information security awareness. Specific books, videos and online materials are developed for children, parents and  general users about information security which are disseminated through portals like 'www.infosecawareness.in', and 'www.csk.gov.in'.

(e): As per the data provided by National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), total number of cases registered under cyber crime in Uttar Pradesh were 11,416 and 11,097 in year 2019 and 2020 respectively.

*******

Annexure-I State/UT-wise Cases Registered(CR), Cases Charge sheeted(CCS), Cases Convicted(CON), Number of Victims (VIC), Persons Arrested(PAR), Persons Charge sheeted(PCS) and Persons Convicted(PCV) under Total Cyber Crimes during 2019-2020

| S L   | State/UT                   | 2019   | 2019   | 2019   | 2019   | 2019   | 2019   | 2019   | 2020   | 2020   | 2020   | 2020   | 2020   | 2020   | 2020   |
|-------|----------------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| S L   | State/UT                   | CR     | CCS    | CON    | TVI C  | PAR    | PCS    | PC V   | CR     | CC S   | CON    | TVI C  | PAR    | PC S   | PCV    |
| 1     | Andhra Pradesh             | 1886   | 235    | 3      | 1909   | 452    | 344    | 5      | 1899   | 314    | 6      | 1917   | 475    | 446    | 9      |
| 2     | Arunachal Pradesh          | 8      | 0      | 0      | 8      | 1      | 0      | 0      | 30     | 1      | 0      | 30     | 12     | 1      | 0      |
| 3     | Assam                      | 2231   | 349    | 13     | 2249   | 1636   | 733    | 13     | 3530   | 385    | 0      | 3556   | 1717   | 395    | 0      |
| 4     | Bihar                      | 1050   | 288    | 4      | 1050   | 1014   | 519    | 17     | 1512   | 651    | 0      | 1537   | 751    | 727    | 0      |
| 5     | Chhattisgarh               | 175    | 94     | 13     | 178    | 139    | 136    | 19     | 297    | 152    | 3      | 299    | 209    | 188    | 3      |
| 6     | Goa                        | 15     | 20     | 0      | 15     | 3      | 25     | 0      | 40     | 6      | 0      | 41     | 15     | 15     | 0      |
| 7     | Gujarat                    | 784    | 447    | 0      | 784    | 1083   | 1064   | 0      | 1283   | 475    | 0      | 1292   | 942    | 906    | 0      |
| 8     | Haryana                    | 564    | 188    | 6      | 564    | 314    | 288    | 10     | 656    | 221    | 0      | 671    | 347    | 323    | 0      |
| 9     | Himachal Pradesh           | 76     | 20     | 2      | 76     | 44     | 24     | 2      | 98     | 31     | 0      | 99     | 46     | 39     | 0      |
| 10    | Jharkhand                  | 1095   | 344    | 19     | 1095   | 402    | 568    | 19     | 1204   | 462    | 125    | 1219   | 820    | 791    | 131    |
| 11    | Karnataka                  | 12020  | 111    | 9      | 12159  | 446    | 183    | 10     | 10741  | 2842   | 2      | 10882  | 489    | 2916   | 2      |
| 12    | Kerala                     | 307    | 176    | 2      | 313    | 220    | 214    | 2      | 426    | 161    | 0      | 447    | 299    | 179    | 0      |
| 13    | Madhya Pradesh             | 602    | 405    | 18     | 610    | 659    | 531    | 24     | 699    | 445    | 14     | 714    | 692    | 598    | 15     |
| 14    | Maharashtra                | 4967   | 980    | 7      | 5029   | 1739   | 1470   | 9      | 5496   | 902    | 3      | 5757   | 1735   | 1238   | 3      |
| 15    | Manipur                    | 4      | 0      | 0      | 4      | 8      | 0      | 0      | 79     | 0      | 0      | 82     | 17     | 0      | 0      |
| 16    | Meghalaya                  | 89     | 2      | 0      | 89     | 3      | 3      | 0      | 142    | 1      | 0      | 132    | 9      | 7      | 0      |
| 17    | Mizoram                    | 8      | 4      | 0      | 8      | 5      | 5      | 0      | 13     | 8      | 2      | 13     | 4      | 8      | 2      |
| 18    | Nagaland                   | 2      | 0      | 0      | 2      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 8      | 0      | 0      | 8      | 0      | 0      | 0      |
| 19    | Odisha                     | 1485   | 220    | 0      | 1486   | 316    | 351    | 0      | 1931   | 282    | 0      | 1934   | 369    | 396    | 0      |
| 20    | Punjab                     | 243    | 90     | 5      | 245    | 259    | 118    | 9      | 378    | 106    | 1      | 390    | 298    | 162    | 1      |
| 21    | Rajasthan                  | 1762   | 312    | 35     | 1770   | 571    | 556    | 41     | 1354   | 340    | 24     | 1388   | 541    | 520    | 32     |
| 22    | Sikkim                     | 2      | 1      | 0      | 2      | 3      | 2      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      |
| 23    | Tamil Nadu                 | 385    | 113    | 8      | 388    | 400    | 161    | 10     | 782    | 135    | 7      | 807    | 516    | 237    | 9      |
| 24    | Telangana                  | 2691   | 847    | 10     | 2700   | 748    | 1564   | 11     | 5024   | 939    | 280    | 5133   | 1169   | 1158   | 282    |
| 25    | Tripura                    | 20     | 4      | 0      | 20     | 1      | 5      | 0      | 34     | 5      | 0      | 34     | 6      | 5      | 0      |
| 26    | Uttar Pradesh              | 11416  | 3705   | 201    | 11510  | 4324   | 5258   | 272    | 11097  | 4987   | 642    | 11360  | 6491   | 6427   | 878    |
| 27    | Uttarakhand                | 100    | 40     | 1      | 103    | 71     | 72     | 1      | 243    | 58     | 0      | 266    | 93     | 80     | 0      |
| 28    | West Bengal                | 524    | 104    | 4      | 526    | 215    | 124    | 4      | 712    | 178    | 0      | 721    | 203    | 313    | 0      |
|       | TOTAL STATE(S)             | 44511  | 9099   | 360    | 44892  | 15076  | 14318  | 478    | 49708  | 14087  | 1109   | 50729  | 18265  | 18075  | 1367   |
| 29    | A&N Islands                | 2      | 0      | 0      | 2      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 5      | 5      | 0      | 5      | 3      | 5      | 0      |
| 30    | Chandigarh                 | 23     | 9      | 5      | 23     | 14     | 14     | 6      | 17     | 3      | 1      | 17     | 4      | 3      | 2      |
| 31    | D&N Haveli and Daman &Diu+ | 3      | 0      | 0      | 3      | 1      | 0      | 0      | 3      | 1      | 0      | 3      | 1      | 1      | 0      |
| 32    | Delhi                      | 115    | 58     | 2      | 116    | 147    | 80     | 2      | 168    | 61     | 0      | 168    | 107    | 77     | 0      |
| 33    | Jammu &Kashmir*            | 73     | 18     | 0      | 78     | 22     | 22     | 0      | 120    | 14     | 0      | 122    | 33     | 23     | 0      |
| 34    | Ladakh                     | -      | -      | -      | -      | -      | -      | -      | 1      | 0      | 0      | 1      | 0      | 0      | 0      |
| 35    | Lakshadweep                | 4      | 0      | 0      | 4      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 3      | 0      | 0      | 3      | 2      | 0      | 0      |
| 36    | Puducherry                 | 4      | 3      | 0      | 4      | 8      | 8      | 0      | 10     | 5      | 0      | 10     | 5      | 5      | 0      |
|       | TOTAL UT(S) TOTAL (ALL     | 224    | 88     | 7      | 230    | 192    | 124    | 8      | 327    | 89     | 1      | 329    | 155    | 114    | 2      |
|       | INDIA)                     | 44735  | 9187   | 367    | 45122  | 15268  | 14442  | 486    | 50035  | 14176  | 1110   | 51058  | 18420  | 18189  | 1369   |

Source: Crime in India

Note : '+' Combined data of erstwhile D&N Haveli UT and Daman & Diu UT during 2019

*' Data of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir State including Ladakh during 2019