National Cyber Security Strategy 2026: Focus on Critical Infrastructure
The government has unveiled the National Cyber Security Strategy 2026, prioritizing the protection of critical information infrastructure like power grids and banking systems.
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- New strategy focuses on protecting Critical Information Infrastructure (CII).
- Mandates the creation of Sectoral CERTs.
- Promotes indigenous cybersecurity products and R&D.
- Establishment of a dedicated Cyber Command.
How This Topic is Tested in Competitive Exams
| Exam | Frequency | Approx. Marks | What Gets Asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC / State PCS | Medium | 4–8 | UPSC focuses on strategic aspects: defence policy, Indo-Pacific, border issues, and bilateral defence deals. |
| SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS) | High | 3–5 | Defence acquisitions, military exercises, and appointments appear in SSC GK. |
| Banking (IBPS / SBI) | Low | 1–2 | Rarely tested in banking exams. |
What to Memorize from This Topic
- Military exercise: name, participating countries, location, purpose
- Defence acquisition: system name, purpose, procured from which country
- Appointments: new Chief of Army Staff, CNS, CAS, and their tenures
- Indigenization: 'Made in India' defence milestones, first-ever systems
- Strategic policy: recent changes to defence export policy, FDI limits in defence
Practice Questions
Q1. Which organization is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents in India?
- CBI
- CERT-In
- ISRO
- NITI Aayog
Explanation: CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) is the nodal agency for cybersecurity incidents.
Q2. Under which Act is 'Critical Information Infrastructure' defined in India?
- Indian Penal Code
- Information Technology Act, 2000
- National Security Act
- Companies Act
Explanation: Critical Information Infrastructure is defined under Section 70 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
How to Prepare Defence for Government Exams
For every military exercise, note: India + Partner country + Purpose (bilateral or multilateral). Questions are pattern-based.
Defence indigenization ('Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence') is a high-priority topic for 2025–26. Focus on systems developed by DRDO or HAL.
Chiefs of defence services change periodically. Always keep the current CDS, Army Chief, Navy Chief, and Air Chief up to date.
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