India's cybersecurity preparedness received a significant boost with the commencement of Bharat NCX 2025. The National Cybersecurity Exercise, officially inaugurated on July 21, 2025, is a two-week immersive program designed to simulate real-world cyber incidents and enhance the operational readiness of Indian cyberspace.
Bharat NCX 2025 is orchestrated by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU). This initiative brings together cybersecurity professionals, policymakers, defense personnel, and industry leaders from across the country to address the growing challenges in cybersecurity. The exercise aims to fortify India's national cyber defense by enhancing the preparedness and resilience of vital stakeholders, including government bodies, critical infrastructure operators, and defense sectors.
The theme of Bharat NCX 2025 is "Enhancing the Operational Preparedness of Indian Cyberspace". The exercise simulates intricate cyberattack scenarios to rigorously test and refine incident response mechanisms. These scenarios may include sophisticated attacks on critical infrastructure, deepfake manipulation, autonomous malware response scenarios, and API security breaches. By replicating real-world cyber threats, Bharat NCX enables organizations across key sectors – such as government, BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), telecom, transport, energy, and healthcare – to assess and strengthen their cybersecurity preparedness.
Deputy National Security Advisor Shri T. V. Ravichandran emphasized the importance of cybersecurity in maintaining national security, economic stability, citizen trust, and public safety. He highlighted that the cybersecurity of digital infrastructure underpins various sectors, from governance and healthcare to energy, transportation, and defense. Shri Ravichandran extolled the need to conduct realistic drills and simulations to prepare for potential cyber threats effectively.
Prof. (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel, Vice Chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University, noted the evolving nature of cyber and AI capabilities as potent tools of cyber defense. He pointed out that the digital space has evolved into a novel arena for statecraft, competition, and conflict, involving both nation-states and state-sponsored actors. The objectives of Bharat NCX 2025 include proactively preventing cyber-attacks, lowering the country's susceptibility to cyber threats, and ensuring rapid recovery with minimal impact when incidents occur.
Bharat NCX 2025 offers a hands-on opportunity to sharpen cybersecurity expertise by participating in simulated cyber attack scenarios and learning the latest defense strategies. The exercise emphasizes the identification of vulnerabilities, the optimization of response strategies, and the promotion of seamless interagency collaboration, thereby advancing India's overarching cyber readiness. By fostering collaboration between public and private entities, NCX enhances the collective ability to respond to and mitigate cyber risks, ensuring the security and resilience of India's digital infrastructure against evolving threats.
The event, running from July 21st to August 1st, 2025, will culminate in a combined debriefing session to consolidate key lessons, evaluate operational and policy-level takeaways, and establish forward-looking strategies for national cyber resilience. Bharat NCX 2025 reflects India's commitment to promoting cybersecurity awareness and ensuring that the nation remains prepared to counter evolving cyber threats and safeguard its digital sovereignty. The Bharat NCX 2025 Startup Exhibition, held from July 21 to August 1, 2025, showcases innovations shaping the future of digital defense.
