The National Cybersecurity Exercise – Bharat NCX 2025 was officially inaugurated today by the Deputy National Security Advisor, Shri T. V. Ravichandran,, in the presence of Vice Chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University, Prof. (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel. This exercise is being conducted by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU). The exercise marks a strategic leap forward in India’s cyber defence posture, introducing a focused theme: “Enhancing the Operational Preparedness of Indian Cyberspace”

Bharat NCX 2025 brings together cybersecurity professionals, policy makers, defence personnel, and industry leaders from across the country for a two-week immersive experience designed to simulate real-world cyber incidents which may include sophisticated attacks on critical infrastructure, deepfake manipulation, autonomous malware response scenarios, and API security breaches and their mitigations.

In his keynote address, Deputy National Security Advisor, Shri T. V. Ravichandran, emphasized that across sectors - from governance and healthcare to energy, transportation, and defence - the cyber security of our digital infrastructure underpins national security, economy, citizen trust and public safety. He extolled the need to conduct realistic drills and simulations - exactly the kind of readiness Bharat NCX is designed for.

Delivering the Special Address, Prof. (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel, Vice Chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University, brought out that over the past two decades, Cyber and AI capabilities have emerged as a potent tool of cyber defence, and digital space has evolved into a novel arena for statecraft, competition, and conflict, involving Nation States and State-sponsored actors. He outlined important objectives such as proactively preventing cyber-attacks, lowering the country’s susceptibility to cyber threats, and accelerating recovery with minimal impact when incidents occur.

Key Features of Bharat NCX 2025

The exercise offers an immersive learning environment focused on cyber defense and incident response, featuring live-fire simulations that mirror real-world attacks on both IT and Operational Technology (OT) systems. It also equips participants with practical insights into how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape. The platform promotes collaboration among government bodies, public and private sector organizations, and industry stakeholders to enhance collective resilience against evolving threats.

A dedicated Strategic Decision-Making Exercise (STRATEX) will bring together senior leaders from diverse sectors to navigate national cyber crisis scenarios, enhancing their strategic decision-making capabilities.

The CISO Conclave will bring together Chief Information Security Officers from across government and industry to explore key developments in cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and Operational Technology, share insights, and discuss emerging trends and policy frameworks.

During the Exercise, Bharat Cybersecurity Startup Exhibition will showcase Indian startups developing cybersecurity solutions highlighting their contribution to building a secure and self-reliant digital infrastructure for the nation.

With its emphasis on leadership engagement, cross-sector collaboration, and capacity building, Bharat NCX 2025 reinforces a unified, future-ready approach to managing intelligent and adaptive cyber threats.

The event runs from July 21st to August 1st, 2025, culminating 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 stands as a testament to India’s unwavering commitment to strengthening its cyber frontiers by embracing advanced technologies responsibly, collaboratively, and strategically.

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MJPS/ST

(Release ID: 2146338)