Cyber Security (Internal Security).
Syllabus: UPSC Mains GS3: Internal security
Cyber security for UPSC: malware, ransomware, phishing and APTs, IT Act 2000, CERT-In 6-hour rule, NCIIPC, I4C, DPDP Act, digital arrest scams,…
In a judgment of 15 October 2026, the Supreme Court said that the right to access and use the internet is a fundamental right of every person, children included, under Article 21 read with Article 19(1)(a). So the answer to online danger is not to lock children out but to go after the abusive content and the platforms that fail to remove it. The Court ordered a National Hash and URL List Database, two-hour reporting of unknown abuse material, and loss of revenue for platforms that profit from it through paywalls.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Arts. 21 and 19(1)(a); POCSO s.15; IT Act ss.67B and 79; CSEAM. · Mains GS-II: rights of children, regulation of platforms.
18 Oct 2026
At an ITU roundtable during India Mobile Congress 2026, India welcomed ITU's proposal for joint trials to verify caller identity across borders. The MoS said C-DOT's ASTR tool has cut over 82 lakh fraudulent connections, Sanchar Saathi has about 25 million downloads, and the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator prevented suspected losses above ₹5,000 crore in 15 months.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ASTR, Sanchar Saathi, ITU. · Mains GS-III: cyber security.
9 Oct 2026
The Department of Telecommunications' Sanchar Saathi portal, launched in May 2023, has crossed 30 crore visits. It has blocked 60.96 lakh lost or stolen phones, traced 37.85 lakh and helped recover over 14 lakh. Citizen reports through Chakshu feed the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator, which has helped prevent suspected losses of over ₹5,000 crore.
UPSC angle: Prelims: tools and names. · Mains GS-III: cyber security; GS-II: e-governance.
5 Oct 2026
QNu Labs, with BISAG-N and IIT Gandhinagar, demonstrated India's first free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) link over 5.56 km on the night of 27-28 September 2026. The quantum bit error rate stayed below 5 per cent and secure keys were made at 230-260 bps, then used with BISAG-N's Vedic Kavach post-quantum cryptography platform.
UPSC angle: Prelims: QKD vs post-quantum cryptography; free-space vs fibre.
3 Oct 2026
On 8 September 2026 the Department of Telecommunications said its Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI), launched on 22 May 2025, had helped prevent suspected cyber-fraud losses of ₹5,043.73 crore by August 2026. FRI tags mobile numbers as medium, high or very high risk so banks and payment apps can stop a fraud before money leaves the account.
UPSC angle: Mains: Tackling digital financial fraud.
8 Sep 2026
On 31 August 2026, its 43rd Foundation Day, C-DOT unveiled 14 indigenous quantum products in Quantum Key Distribution and Post-Quantum Cryptography. They range from fibre-based QKD systems and single-photon detectors to quantum-safe encryptors of up to 200 Gbps, IP phones and wireless links, for telecom, enterprise and defence networks.
UPSC angle: Prelims: QKD vs PQC.
31 Aug 2026