In a significant step to protect India’s rapidly digitizing urban hubs, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to immediately tighten cyber security measures across all smart cities under the Smart Cities Mission.
Officials said the move reflects growing concerns over rising cyber threats and the increasing reliance on technology-driven governance and services. The directive was issued after a high-level conference on cyber safety organized earlier this month.
CISOs for Every Smart City
To build a robust cyber defense, the MHA has recommended that each smart city appoint a dedicated Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) supported by a specialized technical team. CISOs will oversee the safety of digital infrastructure, monitor cyber risks, ensure compliance with national security guidelines, and coordinate timely responses to potential attacks.
Key Recommendations from MHA
The MHA communiqué outlines a clear roadmap for improving cyber resilience:
◆Deploy Information Security Management Systems including firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), endpoint protection, data encryption, and multi-factor authentication.
◆Conduct regular cyber security audits, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing (VAPT) to identify and fix security gaps.
◆Establish dedicated cyber incident response teams in each smart city to act quickly during cyber emergencies.
◆Promote a culture of cyber hygiene and train municipal officials to handle digital security threats.
24×7 Cyber Multi-Agency Centre Operational
The letter also highlighted the operationalization of a 24×7 Cyber Multi Agency Centre set up by the MHA as a nodal point for reporting and coordinating cyber incidents across ministries and state governments.
Why It Matters
With over 100 smart cities under development across India, technology has become the backbone of urban services such as traffic management, utilities, healthcare, and surveillance. However, this growing digital infrastructure is also vulnerable to cyberattacks. The MHA’s intervention underscores the government’s intent to safeguard critical information infrastructure and maintain public trust in smart governance.
This move positions India as one of the few countries proactively integrating national security protocols with smart city development, setting a template for cyber-secure urban growth in the 21st century.
