In a major push to strengthen India’s cybersecurity ecosystem, the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF), a non-profit incubated at IIT Kanpur’s AIIDE Centre of Excellence.
The MoU was formalized in the presence of Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan, NETF Chairman Dr. Anil Sahasrabudhe, UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar, and NIELIT DG Dr. Madan Mohan Tripathi, along with FCRF’s Chief Mentor Prof. Triveni Singh, known for his pioneering work in cybercrime investigations.
Training, Research, and Skilling for the Next-Gen Cyber Workforce
The partnership aims to co-develop advanced certification programs, digital forensics labs, law enforcement training, and student engagement initiatives, all focused on preparing India for emerging threats like AI-generated fraud, ransomware, phishing, and organized cybercrime.
NIELIT and FCRF will also host national hackathons, awareness drives, and responsible AI campaigns to engage students and professionals. Law enforcement agencies will benefit from specialized training in forensic investigations and incident response, helping them combat cybercrime more effectively.
Focus on AI, Policy, and Global-Standard Governance
The collaboration extends beyond skilling. Both organizations will invest in AI- and ML-driven tools for cyber threat detection, while also publishing research reports and policy recommendations to guide India’s cyber governance framework in line with international standards.
Prof. Triveni Singh, Chief Mentor of FCRF, said:
“Today’s MoU marks a meaningful step forward for applied cybersecurity education in India. Together with NIELIT, we aim to build a workforce ready to detect and defeat tomorrow’s cyber threats.”
Bigger Picture: Digital Education for All
The MoU signing was part of a larger ceremony at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, where Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also unveiled the Digital University Platform of NIELIT. This new platform will deliver flexible online skilling in AI, data science, and cybersecurity, aligned with the goals of the Digital India mission.
To further boost outreach, the government announced five new NIELIT centres in Muzaffarpur, Balasore, Tirupati, Daman, and Lunglei, extending the reach of digital skilling to every corner of the country.
With the NIELIT–FCRF alliance, India is not just training cybersecurity professionals—it is building the frontline defense against the digital crimes of the future.
